Raman microspectroscopy as a unique method of the investigation of acid proof steel foil oxidation

In this paper, the results of the investigation of the morphology and phase composition of the oxide layers formed on the surface of the 1H18N9T acid proof steel foil by confocal Raman micro-spectroscopy with optical microscopy, SEM, XRD and TEM-EDS-SADP are presented. The foil oxidation was performed by thermo-programmed heating up to 823, 1023 or 1113 K and next annealing at the final temperatures in the air flow for 48 h, 4 h and 4 h, respectively. The great advantages of the use of the Raman spectroscopy for the phase determining in the oxide layers on the acid proof steel foil are shown. Moreover the possibility of applying the optical microscopy for investigation of the surface morphology of both the initial steel foil and the oxide layers is pointed out.