The process of carbonitriding is similar to the process of carburization yet with additional ammonia to increase the hardness of the metal surface. Carbonitriding is performed at approximately 850 °C–880 °C, which is lower compare to carburizing and low pressure (10–50 mbar). The process consists of two stages: decomposition of ammonia and diffusion of “activated nitrogen”, and decomposition of acetylene and diffusion of carbon. The decomposition of acetylene is a very complex phenomenon, depending on the temperature, pressure and residence time (the time of presence of acetylene in a furnace). Different reaction products form: small molecules (H2, CH4, C2H4, C6H6, etc.), fine-crystalline graphite (the one that diffuses into the metal surface), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), soot etc. The current investigation is based on detailed kinetic modeling (using Chemkin 17.1) of the acetylene decomposition in the atmosphere of a reactor. For this modeling three different comprehensive mechanisms from the literature are considered: the mechanism of K. Norinaga (including 227 species, 827 reactions), the mechanism of T. Bensabath (including 364 species, 1245 reactions) and the mechanism of C. Saggese (including 350 species, more than 10,000 reactions). Comparison of simulation results with experimental data from the literature showed good agreement, demonstrating their applicability for modeling of industrial process. A parametric study suggests the best parameters for acetylene decomposition in a furnace.
