Effect of Atmospheric Conditions on Copper Behaviour during High Temperature Oxidation of a Steel Containing Copper

Abstract

Copper in steels causes a hot shortness problem and it is important to know copper behaviours during high temperature oxidation in order to control the enriched copper amount. In this paper, the effects of atmosphere conditions on the copper behaviours during oxidation of a steel containing 0.1% copper are investigated. Oxidation in a dry atmosphere with oxygen has the effect of decreasing the enriched copper concentration at the scale/metal interface and broadening the copper concentration at the same point. Copper evaporates through the scale when a steel containing copper is oxidized in a low oxygen concentration atmosphere with water vapour. The oxidation in the low oxygen concentration atmosphere reduces the amounts of enriched copper at the scale/metal interface.