Investigation of Metal-Dusting Mechanism in Fe-Base Alloys Using Raman Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, and Electron Microscopy

The metal-dusting phenomenon, which is a metal loss process that occurs in hot reactive gases, was investigated in iron and certain iron-base alloys by Raman scattering, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning-electron microscopy (SEM). Coke from metal dusting exhibits six Raman bands at 1330(D band), 1580(G band), 1617, 2685, 3920, and 3235 cm-1. The bandwidths and the relative intensities of the 1330 and 1580 cm-1 bands are related to the crystallinity and defect structure of the coke. Both Raman and XRD analyses suggest that the metal-dusting process influences the catalytic crystallization of carbon. A new mechanism of metal dusting is, therefore, proposed, based on the premise that coke cannot crystallize well by deposition from carburizing gases at low temperature without catalytic activation because of its strong C–C bonds and high melting temperature. Cementite or iron participates in the coke-crystallizing process in a manner that tends to improve the crystallinity of the coke. At the same time, fine iron or cementite particles are liberated from the pure metal or alloys.