Effect of Surface Oxide on Decarburization Reaction in the Austenitic Steel S304HCu

Abstract

In the present work, the high-temperature decarburization of the austenitic stainless steel S304HCu in Ar–4%H2–xH2O at temperatures between 1000 and 1150 °C was investigated. The focus was on determining parameters that influence the decarburization rate during heat treatment. Thermogravimetric experiments were performed with simultaneous measurements of CO release from the sample using a mass spectrometer. The variation of the experimental parameters included the composition of the atmosphere during pre-oxidation and decarburization, the temperature and the sample thickness. The results indicate that the loss of carbon from the specimen occurs faster through reaction of Cr2O3 with C from the steel compared to the reaction of C at the steel surface with H2O, provided that in the former case CO can easily evaporate. The overall decarburization process is governed by competing reactions; the destruction of chromium oxide by C and the formation of oxide scale by water vapour. The relative rates of these two reactions determines whether decarburization will occur or whether formation of a protective oxide stops the release of CO, the latter being promoted at lower temperatures and high water vapour contents. A dense, sufficiently thick chromia scale retards the onset of decarburization but does eventually not stop the carbon loss. Indications were found that the destruction of a pre-formed chromia scale by carbon involves a two-step process whereby presence of hydrogen is important.