Patent ID: 8173328

Claim:
A method of making an interconnect comprising: forming an interconnect from a ferritic stainless steel, the interconnect having a fuel side and an oxidant side opposite the fuel side, each of the oxidant side and fuel side comprising a via and a gas flow channel; and selectively electropolishing at least a portion of at least one gas flow channel of the oxidant side of the interconnect; wherein the ferritic stainless steel comprises from 0.2 to 4 weight percent manganese, from 0.3 to 1 weight percent aluminum, and at least 0.03 weight percent of one or more rare earth elements; and wherein the electropolished portion of the at least one gas flow channel develops an aluminum-rich oxide surface scale when subjected to an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature of at least 650° C., the aluminum-rich oxide surface scale comprising aluminum, iron, and chromium and having a hematite crystal structure.