The significance of passivation treatments on AISI 314 foam pieces to be used as substrates for catalytic applications

Several properties of metallic foams such as their low density, high mechanical strength and good coefficients of heat and mass transfer make them attractive for applications in catalysis. Important modifications in the composition and morphology of the metallic foam surfaces can take place when they are submitted to treatments at high temperatures. These surface changes are due to the migration of some elements from the metallic core to the pore surface, thus inducing a passivation via an oxide layer formation. This new layer avoids further metallic segregation and generates a surface roughness, both effects having a significant impact on the catalytic coating quality. This work analyzes the effects of calcination temperature and time on the chemistry and morphology of the metallic surface corresponding to the AISI 314 stainless steel foams of 50 and 60 ppi. The chemical and morphological surface changes were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) analysis and Laser Raman Spectroscopy (LRS). The application of high temperature treatments on AISI 314 foams promotes the formation of a surface layer containing chromium oxide and spinel-type compounds of chromium, iron and manganese. The optimum treatment temperature for this type of structures seems to be 900 °C because both the adhesion and thickness of the layer formed are adequate. For the sample with smaller pores (60 ppi) the optimal treatment time is close to 2 h and for that with larger pores (50 ppi) the recommended time is 20 h. Under these conditions, a compromise is found between adhesion, thickness and surface roughness, suitable for the subsequent deposition of catalytic material.