In the present work, Cr/Cr2O3 thin films were applied on 304L stainless steel substrates via modulated pulsed power magnetron sputtering to investigate their protective behaviour against metal dusting for this steel. Depositions of the films were carried out at various negative values of bias voltage. The structure of the films consisted of a very dense fine columnar structure composed of textured Cr2O3. The films showed similar, very good protective behaviour during exposition to an atmosphere of CH4+H2+residual oxygen and moisture at 1073 K for 20 h. The main protection mechanism proposed was associated to the coatings acting as barriers for outward diffusion of the alloy elements and inward diffusion of C and O into the alloy, especially early in the exposure.
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