Nitrogen (N2) atmospheres with different, not always optimized levels of reducing and carburizing gases are often used to prevent decarburizing and oxidation of steel parts during annealing in continuous furnaces. The type and concentration of these additives in N_2 "should correlate to the extent of air leakage into furnace, entrainment of air with loaded parts, steel composition, and complex reaction kinetics in the gradients of oxygen (O_2) and temperature existing between the entrance and hot zones of the furnace. This study explores the effect of small, 0.1 vol.% - 0.4 vol.% propane (C_3H_8) additions on composition of air-contaminated N_2 atmosphere in the temperature range of 500°C - 860°C. Microstructures are presented for AISI 1045 steel exposed to the atmospheres produced. Atmosphere compositions compared include those produced by a new type of plasma-activated, in-situ reformer for N_2-diluted C_3H_8. The latter method extends the atmosphere protection to the lower range of annealing temperatures. Present results may assist heat treaters in optimizing their neutral hardening operations.
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