The Measurement And Interpretation Of Cementation Rate Data

It is now well established that in the majority of cementation processes used industrially, the rate of reaction can be described in terms of the mass transport from the bulk of the solution to the deposition sites on the metallic surface. Thus it should be possible to design cementation equipment from a knowledge of the flow situation in the equipment, and of absolute kinetic data. One way of obtaining such absolute data is by the use of the rotating disc geometry; this geometry is particularly suitable for a detailed study of cementation reactions. In spite of the similar mass transfer mechanism, cementation processes differ from other ionic transport processes in at least two respects. The presence of an attached deposit generally has a significant enhancing effect on the reaction rate; and side reactions involving oxygen and/or hydrogen ions can completely change the course of a reaction. Investigation of these peculiarities is necessary for a complete understanding of the process; since they cannot be isolated from the basic mass transport mechanism, close control of experimental conditions is essential. It has been found that the enhancement in deposition rate persists even when the deposit reaches a thickness several times that of the transport boundary layer thickness on the smooth surface. An explanation of the enhancement in reaction rate is proposed.