Studies of the mechanism of metal dusting of 10CrMo9-10 steel after 10 years of operation in the semi-regenerative catalytic reformer

The study showed that metal dusting mechanism of 10CrMo9-10 steel operated in industrial environment differs from models developed in laboratories. Significant differences lie in the fact that the models developed in laboratories only assume the formation of metastable carbide M3C, while studies have shown that the formation of M3C carbides is associated with the transformation of primary carbides and in the next stage is preceded by formation of the M23C6 carbides, which nucleate at M3C carbides/metal matrix interfaces. Their growth results in a spheroidal precipitates, and content of Cr & Mo in carbides increases with increasing distance from the surface.