This paper discusses a test program to in-situ evaluate the comparative performance of six centrifugally cast heater tube alloys in an ethylene pyrolysis heater. The unusually high creep growth of conventional HP-40 radiant tubes leading to development of the test program is described, as well as the performance of the test tubes, as measured by post exposure
creep growth, carburization behavior, microstructural analysis and time to failure. The performance of an aluminized tube in a separate pyrolysis heater is also described. Keywords: ethylene pyrolysis heater, heat resistant cast stainless steel alloys, carburization, creep, heater tubes, stainless steels.