Abstract
The studies reported here are divided into the following two parts: First, the effect of carbon, silicon, and manganese on hydrogen absorption by molten cast iron at contact with steam; second, the effect of carbon and silicon on hydrogen evolution from cast iron when it solidifies. Cast iron was melted in a Tammann furnace; then steam was blown over the surface of the melt. The samples for hydrogen determination were taken from the melt by a quenching technique before or during the steam blowing. For the study on hydrogen evolution during solidification "vacuum sampler" was used. The evolved hydrogen was determined by gas chromatography or the palladium tube technique, and the hydrogen in solid iron samples was determined by vacuum fusion palladium tube method. The results obtained are as followings. 1) The rate of hydrogen absorption and the maximum hydrogen contents of the melts are reduced by increasing carbon and silicon contents. Manganese of abouf 4% increases the rate of hydorogen absorption. 2) Fe-C alloy melts (C 4%) absorb hydrogen rather rapidly and the maximum hydrogen contents are about 90% of the calculated values. 3) Fe-Si alloy melts (Si 14%) absorb little hydrogen. The oxide films on the melts seem to obstruct the contact of steam with melts. 4) During the solidification of hypoeutectic melts more hydrogen is evolved than retained. During that of hypereutectics, on the contrary, more hydrogen is retained than evolved. Methane is found in the evolved gas from hypereutectic iron.
