Metallurgical developments in steam-methane reformer tube alloys

Alloy development plays a vital role in the technological advancement in steam-methane reformers, with development remaining stagnant in the past three decades. This critical review aims to provide the overview of previous development strategies and highlight the challenges faced by the future development of reformer alloys. In this review, the physical metallurgy of modern reformer alloys is introduced, demonstrating the significance of the MC, M7C3 and M23C6 carbides commonly observed, and the careful balance between alloying additions and the designed microstructures governing performance. The compositional developments, along with the advancements enabled by the introduction of centrifugal casting, are highlighted. The effects of common alloying additions are also addressed, with implications of the existing knowledge on future alloy development opportunities, discussed.