Abstract
The kinetics of the oxidation of ferrous alloys in steam (10–60 kPa) at 450–550°C have been studied by measuring both the rate of hydrogen emission and the amount of metal oxidized. Excellent agreement has been found between the amount of metal oxidized calculated from both the total mass of hydrogen produced in the reaction and the thickness of the oxide layer formed; rate constants calculated from the rate of hydrogen emission, the mass of hydrogen produced as the reaction proceeds, and the oxide formed agree within experimental error. The rate of oxidation of a 9%Cr-1%Mo alloy at 501°C was found to be independent of the partial pressure of the steam. For this alloy, the activation energy agreed with literature values obtained at higher temperatures and pressures. The effect of the chromium and silicon content on the oxidation rates is compared. The rate constants are compared with theoretical calculations, assuming that the rate is determined by diffusion of iron in the magnetite lattice. For the 9%Cr-1%Mo alloy, the parabolic rate constant and activation energy are in excellent agreement with values calculated using Wagner's theory. The experimental rate constants are greater for the alloys containing smaller amounts of chromium; diffusion of iron along magnetite grain boundaries may be the dominant mechanism.
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Cory, N.J., Herrington, T.M. Kinetics of oxidation of ferrous alloys by super-heated steam. Oxid Met 28, 237–258 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00666721
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00666721