Oxidation Resistance and Creep Strength

000 hours, which is a design criterion, is accepted to be not less than two-thirds of the creep stresses. 

Chromium is the most effective alloying element for promoting resistance to oxidation. Table 3.10 gives temperatures at which steels can be used in air without excessive oxidation. In atmospheres contaminated with sulfur, lower maximum temperatures are necessary. 

In fractionation columns for petroleum products, where the oxygen content is restricted, higher temperatures can be used without excessive waste of the metal. 

The creep strength of steels is a factor limiting the maximum temperatures for such high-pressure equipment as shells and stirrers of high temperature reactors. Table 3.10 presents creep data for temperatures ranging from 400 to 600°C. The stress for 1% creep in 100,000 hours (which is a design criterion) is accepted to be not less than two-thirds of the creep stresses. 

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The cyclones in both unit types are lined with erosion resistant refractory. The cydones in the reactors are usually made of carbon steel the cyclones in the regenerators are made of either 2%Cr-l Mo or type 304 (UNS S30400) or 321 (UNS S32100) stainless steel (SS). Oxidation resistance and creep strength, rather than sulfur attack, govern the selection of the cyclone material. 

Timetal 2 IS Ti-15Mo-3Nb- 3Al-0.2Si Good cold formability and weldability of a beta strip alloy, but with greatly improved oxidation resistance and creep strength. Aerospace applications include engine exhaust plug and nozzle assemblies. 

Heat resisting to 2150 F (1177 C). Resists oxidation better than 310, but has much less tensile and creep strength than 310 at high temperature. Sulfurous gases can be a problem. (See table. 9.4.)... 

SiHcon nitride (see Nitrides) is a key material for stmctural ceramic appHcations in environments of high mechanical and thermal stress such as in vehicular propulsion engines. Properties which make this material uniquely suitable are high mechanical strength at room and elevated temperatures, good oxidation and creep resistance at high temperatures, high thermal shock resistance, exceUent abrasion and corrosion resistance, low density, and, consequently, a low moment of inertia. Additionally, siHcon nitride is made from abundant raw materials. 

Chromium is the most effective addition to improve the resistance of steels to corrosion and oxidation at elevated temperatures, and the chromium—molybdenum steels are an important class of alloys for use in steam (qv) power plants, petroleum (qv) refineries, and chemical-process equipment. The chromium content in these steels varies from 0.5 to 10%. As a group, the low carbon chromium—molybdenum steels have similar creep—mpture strengths, regardless of the chromium content, but corrosion and oxidation resistance increase progressively with chromium content. 

Carbon content is usually about 0.15% but may be higher in bolting steels and hot-work die steels. Molybdenum content is usually between 0.5 and 1.5% it increases creep—mpture strength and prevents temper embrittlement at the higher chromium contents. In the modified steels, siUcon is added to improve oxidation resistance, titanium and vanadium to stabilize the carbides to higher temperatures, and nickel to reduce notch sensitivity. Most of the chromium—molybdenum steels are used in the aimealed or in the normalized and tempered condition some of the modified grades have better properties in the quench and tempered condition. 

Standard Wrought Steels. Steels containing 11% and more of chromium are classed as stainless steels. The prime characteristics are corrosion and oxidation resistance, which increase as the chromium content is increased. Three groups of wrought stainless steels, series 200, 300, and 400, have composition limits that have been standardized by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AlSl) (see Steel). Figure 8 compares the creep—mpture strengths of the standard austenitic stainless steels that are most commonly used at elevated temperatures (35). Compositions of these steels are Hsted in Table 3. 

A simple, low cost steel for high temperature service in electric power generation (qv) is the C—0.5% Mo steel known as carbon—half moly, which was widely used for many years. The power industry and oil refineries have turned to 1.25% Cr—0.5% Mo and 2.25% Cr—1% Mo steels for high stress and high temperature service, because these steels have improved resistance to graphitization and oxidation, as weU as higher creep and mpture strength. 

Other alloys have been developed for use in particular corrosive environments at high temperatures. Several of these are age-hardenable alloys which contain additions of aluminum and titanium. Eor example, INCONEL alloys 718 and X-750 [11145-80-5] (UNS N07750) have higher strength and better creep and stress mpture properties than alloy 600 and maintain the same good corrosion and oxidation resistance. AHoy 718 exhibits excellent stress mpture properties up to 705°C as well as good oxidation resistance up to 980°C and is widely used in gas turbines and other aerospace appHcations, and for pumps, nuclear reactor parts, and tooling. 

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