To limit oxidation and protect against loss of conductivity in stainless steel for applications such as high temperature fuel cell interconnects, a layer of cobalt was electroplated on the surface. When heated in air at 800 degrees C, the cobalt was converted into spinel phases containing cobalt, chromium and iron. The oxide layer was characterized by X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectrometry. The area specific resistance (ASR) of the samples was measured by a new technique. After 1900 It oxidation at 800 degrees C in air, the cobalt-coated UNS430 stainless steel had a clean surface and a stable ASR of 0.026 Omega cm(2) compared to uncoated UNS430 which showed a thick, porous oxide growth and an ASR more than 10-fold higher. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.