<div>To understand the effect of microstructure on the oxidation characteristics of 9Cr-1Mo steel, experimental material with two different starting microstructures (ferritic and martensitic) were exposed to a CO<sub>2</sub> rich atmosphere at 600 °C and 640 °C for up to ∼7000 hours.</div><div><br></div><div>The microstructure influences the size and distribution of carbides forming within the 9Cr-1Mo steel exposed to a CO<sub>2</sub> rich atmosphere. These differences lead to elemental segregation during carburisation and oxidation. This elemental segregation influences the oxidation characteristics of the 9Cr-1Mo steel and the morphology of the internal oxidation zone, and subsequently the spinel structure shows ghosts of the prior substrate microstructure.</div>
This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Corrosion Science and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2021.109720.