Effect of gas composition on cementite decomposition and coke formation on iron

Cementite decomposition and coke formation in the metal dusting process of iron were investigated at 700 °C in CO-H₂-H₂O gas mixtures. The presence of graphite deposited on the surface initiates the decomposition of cementite into iron and graphite. The morphology of the reaction products varies with gas composition. For CO concentrations less than 5 vol%, particles of iron or even closed iron layers have been observed at the cementite/graphite interface. With increasing CO content the amount of iron in the interface decreases. At CO concentrations higher than 30 vol%, iron could not be detected at the interface by optical microscopy. Thermo-gravimetric analysis shows that the rate of carbon take-up increases with increasing CO concentration reaching a maximum at about 60-75 vol%.The morphologies of graphite in the coke layer can be identified as three types: porous graphite clusters with embedded iron-containing particles, compact bulk graphite with a uniform thickness and a columnar layered structure, and filamentous carbon with iron-containing phases at the tip or along its length. For gas mixtures with low CO concentrations, e.g. 5 vol%, porous graphite clusters are the main form of carbon although filamentous carbon can be seen at the early stage of reaction. With increasing CO concentrations to, e.g. 30 vol%, a compact bulk graphite is formed on the top of the surface. Under this compact graphite, there is an inner layer of graphite which is the combination of porous graphite clusters and filaments. These two layers of graphite are clearly distinguishable when CO content reaches more than 75 vol%. In this case, the main form of graphite in the inner layer is filamentous carbon. The compact graphite layer suffers a serious deformation and forms many cracks because of the growth of catalytic filamentous carbon underneath. These filaments grow outside from compact graphite crevices and finally cover the whole surface. The higher the CO content in the gas, the more the tendency of filamentous carbon formation. The interplay between morphologies of carbon formation and metal dusting has been discussed.