Less mass gain and poorer scale adhesion assessed by the tensile test of the AISI 430 stainless steel exposed to O<inf>2</inf>-40%H<inf>2</inf>O at 800 °C were observed in comparison with the exposure to O<inf>2</inf>. The reduced mass gain was partly due to Cr-species volatilisation while the worse scale adhesion related to pores formed at scale/steel interface. The Brouwer diagrams were proposed to help discuss the water vapour effect on altering defect concentrations that could affect the oxidation rate and scale adhesion of the studied steel.
