Protection of Sintering Furnace Equipment against Corrosion and Carburization through Optimized Furnace Atmospheres

摘要

Operating furnaces for sintering various iron powders often result in significant maintenance costs due to premature wear of conveyors and muffles. Through such damages consequential costs may increase leading to decreased plant availability. The reason for this is often a form of high temperature corrosion in furnace atmospheres, whose constituents are carbon carried by propane, natural gas or endothermic atmosphere. (Also carbonaceous residues of the binder or lubricant which reach into the high-temperature range of the system can influence these mechanisms.) In this way it can, especially in the areas where the atmosphere warms up or cools down, come to an intensive carburization of heat-resistant materials, high temperature corrosion. This paper describes the underlying mechanisms of this high-temperature corrosion and the relevant parameters for influencing the carbon potential of the atmosphere, and concludes with a practical example for optimizing the furnace atmosphere and the sintering process.