Oxide scales growth of low-carbon steel at high temperatures

In this paper, an experimental simulation of oxidation scales during hot strip rolling was carried out on a GLEEBLE-3500 thermo-mechanical simulator. Specimens were exposed to an oxidizing water vapour mixture for different exposure times from 0.6 to 160 s isothermally at 800, 900 and 1000 °C, respectively under atmospheric pressure, which are representative duration of time for oxidation on a hot finishing mill. The oxidation kinetics was analyzed and a prediction of scale thickness as a function of oxidation time and temperature has been obtained. Phase compositions and macrostructure of the surface oxide films formed during the oxidation were investigated by microscope image analyzer and X-ray diffraction. A Nanoscope IIIA atomic force microscope (AFM), was also used to examine the 3-D surface profiles before and after oxidation. The surface characteristics of the oxide scale were investigated with a power spectrum analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]