Iron-chromium heat-resisting alloy is a candidate for interconnect of planar-type solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). The oxidation kinetics of Fe-16Cr alloy (SUS430) has been studied in an air/alloy/fuel (Ar-H-2-H2O gas mixture) atmosphere under a hydrogen potential gradient at 1073 K. The growth rates of chromia scale at both sides are almost the same, although oxygen partial pressures of both sides are. quite different and a small amount of hydrogen permeates from the fuel side to the air side. The growth rate and microstructure of the scale are practically unaffected by hydrogen potential gradient in Fe-16Cr alloy under the condition simulating SOFC at 1073 K. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.