In an effort to improve the performance of SUS 430 alloy as a metallic interconnect material, a low cost and Cr-free spinet coating of NiMn2O4 is prepared on SUS 430 alloy substrate by the sol-gel method and evaluated in terms of the microstructure, oxidation resistance and electrical conductivity. A oxide scale of 3-4 mu m thick is formed during cyclic oxidation at 750 degrees C in air for 1000 h, consisting of an inner layer of doped Cr2O3 and an outer layer of doped NiMn2O4 and Mn2O3; and the growth of Cr2O3 and formation of MnCr2O4 are depressed. The oxidation kinetics obeys the parabolic law with a rate constant as low as 4.59 x 10(-15) g(2) cm(-4) s(-1). The area specific resistance at temperatures between 600 and 800 degrees C is in the range of 6 and 17 m Omega cm(2). The above results indicate that NiMn2O4 is a promising coating material for metallic interconnects of the intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.