Metal dusting

Metal dusting is "a catastrophic form of corrosion that occurs when susceptible materials are exposed to environments with high carbon activities.

The suspected mechanism is firstly the deposition of a graphite layer on the surface of the metal, usually from carbon monoxide (CO) in the vapour phase.

However, in some regimes no M3C species are observed indicating a direct transfer of metal atoms into the graphite layer.

Very briefly, there are several proposed methods for prevention or reduction of metal dusting; the most common seem to be aluminide coatings, alloying with copper and addition of steam.

[3] There is a significant amount of literature in existence that describes proposed mechanisms, prevention methods, etc.