Thermo-mechanical fatigue properties of a ferritic stainless steel for solid oxide fuel cell interconnect

► A thermo-mechanical fatigue testing technique for SOFC interconnect is developed. ► A fatigue mechanism involving cyclic plasticity dominates non-hold-time TMF life. ► Non-hold-time TMF life is increased with a decrease in applied stress at 800 °C. ► A 100-h hold-time of applied stress at 800 °C significantly reduces TMF life. ► Both creep and creep-fatigue interaction contribute to the hold-time TMF damage.