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Abstract
A one-dimensional finite difference model has been developed to compute the magnitude and concentration profile of the decarburised layer found when high carbon steels are reheated in oxidising atmospheres. It is assumed in the model (based on the explicit formulation of finite differences) that the rate at which carbon diffuses in the steel depends on both temperature and concentration. The model divides a piece of steel into cells of equal size before the computation proceeds. Oxidation of the steel is included in the model by assuming that growth of the oxide layer follows a temperature dependent parabolic regime. The two models are coupled by calculating the depth of oxidation first; the new thickness of the steel is obtained and is divided into a new set of cells; the concentration at the centre of each cell is calculated by interpolating the concentration at the centre of two older elements. The rate at which carbon is lost from the steel is calculated by the carbon content at the oxide side of the oxide/steel interface and by a mass transfer coefficient obtained from experimental trials.