Etude cinétique de la réaction de carburation du molybdène par le méthane

The kinetics of carburization of molybdenum by methane has been studied in a fluidized bed differential reactor. Scanning electron microphotographs of the reacting solids, at various conversion levels, have been analyzed. It has been shown that pore formation resulted in considerable increase in reaction rate. Initial rates are analyzed in terms of growth of superficial carbide nucleus. The rate of growth of the germs was found to decrease with time of reaction. A model is proposed to explain this decrease.