Corrosion of iron-, nickel-, and cobalt-base alloys in atmospheres containing carbon and oxygen

The corrosion of iron-, nickel-, and cobalt-base alloys has been studied in atmospheres containing carbon and oxygen in the temperature range 894–1366 K. It was observed that preformed Cr₂O₃ films are not effective barriers to carbon transport in atmospheres in which the oxide is not stable but that stable, growing Cr₂O₃ films are excellent barriers to carbon penetration. The presence of Fe-containing oxides on Fe-Ni-Cr and Fe-Cr alloys cause the scales to be permeable to carbon. This phenomenon was found to be sensitive to alloy surface preparation. Carbon transport through oxide scales may occur by two mechanisms: diffusion or molecular transport through physical defects. The present work has evidence of the latter but cannot rule out the former in cases where the carbon activity is sufficiently large. In gases containing CO and CO₂ in which Cr carbide is stable Cr₂O₃ was found to form at the carbide-alloy interface by oxygen transport through the carbide. In A-CH₄ Fe-Ni-Cr were found to undergo graphitization attack. The results were consistent with the formation and subsequent decomposition of metastable carbides, as proposed by Hochmann.