Increases in syngas steam to carbon ratio are generally expected to reduce the tendency of high chromium nickel-based alloys to suffer from metal dusting corrosion. This might only be true for the initiation of metal dusting. Laboratory experiments have been conducted in a pressurized autoclave to indicate that sustained metal dusting degradation of alloy 601 (UNS N06601) may also be driven by the presence of steam (oxygen partial pressure). Oxidation of matrix carbides is proposed as a possible
contributing factor in metal dusting corrosion. Keywords: carburization, metal dusting, nickel-base alloys, oxidation