Carburised steel from a woodstove?

[Sam Salvati]

Got this plate of steel, it was probably mild/1018, not sure exactly. It was this baffle plate from a woodstove, 1/4 inch thick. The woodstove was run VERY hot, hot enough for the sides to glow red and bow out, and this baffle plate was very warped as well. I was wondering perhaps might it have gotten over time and temperature with the burning wood in the stove carburised? The surface of the plate looks like dry cracked desert.

 

[A C Richards]

I would say de carbed. You do not have enough of a controlled atmosphere inside the woodstove. You could always do a quench test on it to see if it hardens up.

 

[Sam Salvati]

I'll have to try a quench test, it is cool looking stuff I am wondering if I can heat and shape it and still keep the surface texture.