The Effect of Long Term Service at Elevated Temperatures on Microstructure Degradation of Austenitic Reformer Tubes

The paper analyses the relationship between an increase of the inner diameter of tubes made of Manaurite XM cast steel and transformations occurring in their microstructure due to long-lasting operation in methane reformer. Examinations included metallographic analysis with light microscope (LM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and microanalysis of the chemical composition of precipitates (EDX). It was indicated that there is a relationship between the microstructure degradation ratio, morphology of the precipitates and an increase of the inner diameter of the tubes.