On the reaction mechanism of the carburization and decarburization of α-iron in CH4/H2-mixtures

The surface reaction of the carburization and decarburization of α-iron in CH₄/H₂-mixtures has been investigated by a method using the radioactive isotope ¹⁴C. Experimentally two different kinetic equations have been confirmed and discussed in detail: In accordance to ¹) the kinetic equation (1) is explained by a slow reaction: . For the kinetic equation (2) the adsorption, respectively the desorption of CH₄, is considered to be the most slow partial step. The correlation of the carburization with the adsorption is supported by the relations: Thus can be regarded as E_a, the activation energy of the adsorption. Its value was determined at 109 kJ/mol being equivalent to 1.1 eV, which is characteristic for a chemisorption. Further it was established, that the rate of the decarburization according to equation (2) increases with decreasing temperature, i.e. the (apparent) activation energy proved to be negative. This is explained by the fact that before its rate-controlling desorption the CH₄-molecule first of all must be formed step-by-step and by the assumption that for thermodynamical reasons the surface concentration of CH₄ increases very much with decreasing temperature. The range of validity of the kinetic equations (1) and (2) can be limited to each other as follows:

• – The kinetic law (1) is established especially at higher H₂-pressures and at surfaces with low, but effective impurities. The impurities simultaneously result in a high decline of the reaction rate.
• – The kinetic law (2) is valid especially at lower H₂-pressures.