Nickel-and Cobalt-base coatings were developed on boiler-tube steels by the argon-shrouded, plasma spray process. The cyclic behavior of bare and coated boiler-tube steels has been studied in air at 900 8C. Four types of coatings were used: Ni-22Cr-10Al-1Y (NiCrAlY), Ni-20Cr, Ni 3 Al and Stellite-6 (St-6). The NiCrAlY has also been used as a bond coat of approximately 150 mm thick before the final coating in all the cases. Oxidation products analyzed in the scale are mostly oxides of the elements present in the coatings and substrate steels. NiCr 2 O 4 and CoCr 2 O 4 spinels are the most-common observed phases in the scale for nickel-and cobalt-base coatings. The internal oxidation of coatings and diffusion of iron from the base steel to the upper scale occurred during the study. Cracks formed in the scale and coating and may be due to differences in composition of coatings, bond coat, substrate and oxides formed.