US-based scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory have created proprietary stainless steel alloys designed to allow increased operating temperatures and efficiency in energy production systems. They have potential applications in high temperature chemical and process industry applications. The new alloys developed are said to offer superior oxidation resistance compared with conventional stainless steels, without significant increased cost or decreased resistance to creep. In addition, they have the ability to form protective aluminum oxide scales instead of chromium oxide scales. The combination of creep and oxidation resistance offered by the new alloys previously was available only with nickel base alloys, which are about five times more costly than the new stainless steels.
