ISSN 3041-1815. Physicochemical Mechanics of Materials. 2026.
Volume 62, Issue 3
Degradation of 316L steel interconnects in molten carbonate fuel cells
Majewska K. 
Politechnika Warszawska, Warszawa, Poland (https://ror.org/00y0xnp53)
Szczesniak A.
Politechnika Warszawska, Warszawa, Poland (https://ror.org/00y0xnp53)
Martsinchyk A.
Politechnika Warszawska, Warszawa, Poland (https://ror.org/00y0xnp53)
Shuhayeu P.
Politechnika Warszawska, Warszawa, Poland (https://ror.org/00y0xnp53)
Dybinski O.
Politechnika Warszawska, Warszawa, Poland (https://ror.org/00y0xnp53)
Podhurska V.
Karpenko Physico-Mechanical Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine. (https://ror.org/02jv3yx22)
Chepil R.
Karpenko Physico-Mechanical Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine. (https://ror.org/02jv3yx22)
Kuprin O.
National Science Center “Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology”, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukraine. (https://ror.org/00183pc12)
Reshetnyak E.
National Science Center “Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology”, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukraine. (https://ror.org/00183pc12)
Milewski J.
Politechnika Warszawska, Warszawa, Poland (https://ror.org/00y0xnp53)
Keywords
molten carbonate fuel cells, interconnects, 316L stainless steel, high-temperature corrosion, surface and internal oxidation.
Cite as
Majewska K., Szczesniak A., Martsinchyk A., Shuhayeu P., Dybinski O., Podhurska V. Ya., Chepil R. V., Kuprin О. S., Reshetnyak E. M., and Milewski J. Degradation of 316L steel interconnects in molten carbonate fuel cells. Physicochemical Mechanics of Materials. 2026. 62(3), 48-56.
Abstract
The degradation mechanisms of austenitic AISI 316L stainless steel, used for manufacturing interconnects of molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC), under both real operating conditions and laboratory modeling were investigated. The structure-phase state of interconnect surfaces after operation in the cathode (oxygen–carbon dioxide mixture) and the anode (hydrogen–water vapor–carbon dioxide mixture) MCFC environments, as well as 316L steel specimens after contact with the electrolyte (molten 62Li2CO3/38K2CO3 salts) at 650°C in laboratory conditions, were studied. In the cathode environment, intensive oxidation, carburization, and formation of unstable oxycarbide phases are observed, whereas in the anode environment the formation of iron- and chromium-containing oxides predominates. The molten electrolyte is identified as the most aggressive degradation factor, causing selective leaching of chromium and nickel, intergranular corrosion, and deep internal oxidation. The obtained results indicate the limited durability of MCFC interconnects made of 316L steel without the application of protective coatings.