Carburization of high-temperature steels: A simulation-based ranking of carburization resistance

Abstract

Carburization is a failure mechanism affecting equipment, such as furnace tubes, operating at high temperatures. Carburization simulations were carried out for the heat-resistant steels referred to the API-530 standard by applying a model for carbon diffusion with the concurrent formation of alloy carbides. The calculated carbon and carbide volume fraction profiles were validated experimentally. The carburization layer is composed from M23C6 and M7C3 carbides. The time required for the carburization front to reach the mid-thickness of the tubes was used to characterize carburization resistance. The austenitic grades exhibit a higher carburization resistance than the ferritic grades at all temperatures. In the ferritic grades, alloy composition has a stronger effect at lower service temperatures (600°C) where carburization resistance increases with Cr and Mo content. The acceleration of diffusion at high temperatures (800°C) dominates the composition effects on carbon diffusion, and the carburization front is controlled by the formation of carbides, which in turn depends on the available amount of Cr in the steel. In the austenitic grades, the highest carburization resistance is exhibited by the stabilized grades 321 and 347 due to formation of TiC or NbC carbides respectively. Regarding the non-stabilized grades, carburization resistance is raised by addition of Mo (316 vs 304) and lower carbon (316L vs 316). The results of this study can be used for material selection for carburization resistance and for planning maintenance procedures for the timely replacement of tubes.