Dan Herring is president of THE HERRING GROUP Inc.

, which specializes in consulting services (heat treatment and

metallurgy) and technical services (industrial education/training and process/equipment assistance). He is also a
research associate professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology/Thermal Processing Technology Center. tel: 630-
834-3017; e-mail: dherring@heat-treat-doctor.com; web: www.heat-treat-doctor.com

The Role of Furnace Atmospheres (Part 1: Chemistry)

The proper selection of a furnace atmosphere is highly dependent on the

September 25, 2013 type of heat treatment being performed. For ferrous alloys, these
Daniel H. Herring atmospheres can either be chemical inert (i.e. passive to the surface) or
chemically reactive (i.e. reactive to the surface).

Examples of the uses of furnace atmospheres include:

Purging air (oxygen) from a furnace

Controlling the surface chemistry to prevent oxidation and/or reduction reactions from occurring
Controlling the surface chemistry to allow oxidation and/or reduction reactions to take place
Avoiding decarburization of the surface
Allowing surface chemistry reactions for the purpose of introducing a chemical species such as
carbon (carburizing) or nitrogen (nitriding)

In all cases, it is important to understand the chemical constituents and reactions (i.e. interactions) of
the furnace atmosphere gases in order to measure and control them. These gases include:

1. Nitrogen (Chemical Symbol: N or N2)

Molecular nitrogen (N2) is essentially inert to iron in steel and is used for purging and in some
instances can be used as a protective atmosphere for low-carbon steels. For use with high-carbon steel,
the gas must be completely dry, otherwise decarburization occurs. Atomic nitrogen (N) is not
considered an inert or protective atmosphere because it will combine with iron. At high temperatures,
nitrogen may show reaction with molybdenum (Mo), titanium (Ti), chromium (Cr) and cobalt (Co).
Molecular nitrogen will, under certain circumstances, convert to atomic nitrogen and chemically react
with the surface of the material being heat treated, for example when processing stainless steel in the
temperature range of 1010-1120°C (1850-2050°F range).

 2. Hydrogen (Chemical Symbol: H or H2)

Hydrogen is a reducing gas and is used where reducing atmosphere is required. It may be used to
prevent oxidation of iron. The decarburizing effect of hydrogen on steel depends on furnace
temperature, moisture content (of the gas and of the furnace), time at temperature and the carbon
content of the steel.

FeO + H2 = Fe + H2O

Fe3O4 + H2 = H2O + 3FeO

Hydrogen can also be used to decarburize the steel for certain applications. At material temperature
greater than 700°C (1292°F), the following reaction occurs: C + 2H2 = CH4

Atomic hydrogen (H) may be absorbed by the metal at elevated temperatures and cause hydrogen
embrittlement. Elements containing titanium (Ti), niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta) are especially prone
to attack.

This discussion continues in Part Two.

References

1. Herring, D. H., Heat Treating and Atmosphere Generation, Chartered Institute Gas Consultancy
Program, Institute of Gas Technology, 1979.

2. Korla. S.C., "Atmosphere in Furnaces," Lecture 35, NPTEL (National Programme on Technology
Enhanced Learning), IIT Kanpur, India.

Dan Herring is president of THE HERRING GROUP Inc., which specializes in consulting services (heat treatment and
metallurgy) and technical services (industrial education/training and process/equipment assistance). He is also a
research associate professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology/Thermal Processing Technology Center. tel: 630-
834-3017; e-mail: dherring@heat-treat-doctor.com; web: www.heat-treat-doctor.com

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