Variability in Co 2 Oxidation Resistance of 2 1/4 Cr 1 Mo and 1 Cr 1/2 Mo Steels

Abstract

Oxidation tests in CO₂ atmospheres on nominally identical casts of low alloy steels have revealed wide variation in oxidation resistance. A study has been made of the influence of chemical composition, mechanical and thermal treatment, and remelting on the CO₂ oxidation behaviour of steels of the 21/4 Cr 1 Mo and 1 Cr 1/2 Mo type.

Statistical analyses of CO₂ oxidation results have shown a strong positive correlation of oxidation rate with sulphur content in certain instances, but a number of anomalies have been found. A similar relationship has been obtained between ‘MnS’ content and oxidation rate by area count studies of the inclusions in a range of 2 1/4 Cr 1 Mo steels. These have also indicated a possible effect of ‘MnS’ particle size and particle size distribution which could account for some of the anomalous results obtained in the statistical work. Conventional solid state heat treatments appear to have no significant effect on the oxidation behaviour of 2 1/2 Cr 1 Mo and while remelting in argon did not generally improve oxidation behaviour, remelting in vacuo followed by forging and rolling resulted in a material of high oxidation resistance.