High-Temperature Oxidation and Decarburization of 14.55 wt pct Cr-Cast Iron in Dry Air Atmosphere

The oxidation and decarburization behavior of 14.55 wt pct Cr-cast iron at 1273 K to 1423 K (1000 °C to 1150 °C) in a dry air atmosphere was studied. A gravimetric investigation showed that intensive oxidation of cast iron takes place at temperatures above 1273 K (1000 °C). It is found that oxidizing heating is accompanied by decarburization, which manifests itself in secondary and eutectic carbide dissolution. The volume fraction of carbides decreases with temperature and holding duration increasing. Decarburization results in the formation of a decarburized layer up to 4 mm in depth. A carbide-free layer in depth up to 100 μm appears in the free surface after 6 to 8 hours holding at 1373 K to 1423 K (1100 °C to 1150 °C). Preliminary activation energy calculations suggested that the eutectic carbide dissolution at the depths of 50 to 400 μm is controlled by carbon diffusion in austenite. The dissolution of eutectic carbides involves a capillarity-induced mechanism, which consists of formation and growth of capillary cavities inside carbides.