Ethylene is one of the principal building blocks in the petrochemical industry, and world-wide production and consumption have been steadily increasing. Production of ethylene is accomplished primarily by the pyrolytic stripping of hydrogen from ethane or a higher molecular weight hydrocarbon. This cracking process, sometimes referred to as steam cracking, is currently accomplished in metallic tubes using high temperature furnaces and has a conversion etliciency for ethane of 60-65%. Operation at signiticently higher temperatures could increase the efficiency as much as 20%, but materials with better high temperature strength would be required. To help identify suitable materiels, tests have been conducted to determine the behavior of selected ceramic materials in environments similar to those anticipated for a high-efficiency, advanced steam cracking system. The effects of exposure on weight change, mechanical strength, and microstructure have been determined in a series of 100 hour tests. In addition, 500 hour tests have been conducted to determine the effect of time on material behavior. From these tests, several strong candidates have been identified.
Keywords: silicon carbide, silicon carbide particulate-strengthened alumina, CFCC, continuous fiber ceramic composite, steam cracking, ethylene cracking, oxidation, corrosion, steam corrosion