The effect of pure-metal coatings on the transformation of a pre-formed h-Al 2 O 3 scale on an Fe-50Al alloy was investigated. The elements Fe, Cr, Ti, and Ni were deposited on the pre-formed Al 2 O 3 having a thickness of about 50 nm. Ti, Cr or Fe coatings on pre-formed h-Al 2 O 3 were found to accelerate the transformation to a-Al 2 O 3 , while no apparent effect was observed from the Ni coating. Since the corundum crystal structure of Ti 2 O 3 , Cr 2 O 3 and Fe 2 O 3 was indentified on Ti, Cr or Fe coated samples and the transformation to a-Al 2 O 3 started at the outer part of the h-Al 2 O 3 scale, these corundum oxides were considered to act as heterogeneous nucleation sites for a-Al 2 O 3 , therefore promoting the transformation from h-Al 2 O 3 to a-Al 2 O 3 . The growth rate of a-Al 2 O 3 grains and the rate of advance of the h-Al 2 O 3 /a-Al 2 O 3 interface were found to be faster with the Fe coating.