Silicon carbide film over

The high-chromium irons undoubtedly owe their corrosion-resistant properties to the development on the surface of the alloys of an impervious and highly tenacious film, probably consisting of a complex mixture of chromium and iron oxides. Since the chromium oxide will be derived from the chromium present in the matrix and not from that combined with the carbide, it follows that a stainless iron will be produced only when an adequate excess (probably not less than 12% of chromium over the amount required to form carbides is present. It is commonly held, and with some theoretical backing, that carbon combines with ten times its own weight of chromium to produce carbides. It has been said that an increase in the silicon content increases the corrosion resistance of the iron this result is probably achieved because the silicon refines the carbides and so aids the development of a more continuous oxide film over the metal surface. It seems likely that the addition of molybdenum has a similar effect, although it is possible that the molybdenum displaces some chromium from combination with the carbon and therefore increases the chromium content of the ferrite. 

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