The alloys Cr5Fe1Y(2)O(3) and the ferritic steel Crofer22APU are typical alloys used as solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnect materials. Alloy Cr5Fe1Y(2)O(3) is an oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloy developed by Plansee, Reutte, Austria, for use at high temperature. A typical material for medium-temperature SOFC, is the high chromium ferritic steel Crofer22APU supplied by Thyssen Krupp VDM, Germany. The two alloys form different oxide scales which affect chromium poisoning. Chromium vaporization as source term and electrochemical degradation of La1-xSrxMnO3 (LSM) and La0.58Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF) describing the poisoning were studied for the two alloys. The dynamics of the chromium deposition in porous perovskite cathodes was studied by a dc method and impedance spectroscopy. Electrical degradation of the LSM cathode by alloy Cr5Fe1Y(2)O(3) was significantly higher than for Crofer22APU. The microstructure of the cells was studied after measurements by scanning and energy filtering transmission electron microscopy. Significant amounts of chromium were observed at the TPB in the functional layer of cells, with the LSM cathode giving insight into the degradation mechanism. Cells tested with the LSCF cathode clearly show Cr poisoning. Formation of large SrCrO4 crystals was observed on the surface of the LSCF cathode.