PROCESS FOR THE GENERATION OF A LOW DEW-POINT OXYGEN-FREE PROTECTIVE ATMOSPHERE FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THERMAL TREATMENTS

摘要

A process for the generation of a protective nitrogen-based atmosphere for the performance of heat treatments of metal articles in three phases, including an initial phase in which a gaseous hydrocarbon feed and an oxidant containing oxygen react on a first catalyst to form a reaction product, a second phase in which the reaction product is added to nitrogen contaminated by the presence of oxygen and a third phase in which the reaction product is conveyed to a second catalyst to form a low dew-point gaseous mixture as a protective atmosphere.