Effect of Corrosion Time on the Synergistic Corrosion of Q235 Steel in Sodium Aluminate Solutions

Abstract

During Bayer alumina production with high-sulfur bauxite, the sulfide ions in the sodium aluminate solution caused serious corrosion to Q235 steel, which is the material of the tank equipment. This study investigates the effect of corrosion time on Q235 steel synergistic corrosion in sodium aluminate solution using the weight-loss method and electrochemical measurements. The results indicate that the corrosion rate decreases sharply, the rate equation satisfies the mathematical model of power function at the initial stage of corrosion, and the transformation of unstable iron sulfide to stable iron oxide at the later stage results in the decrease in sulfur content in the corrosion products and surface pseudo-passivation. There are two main types of corrosion products, as follows: one is the octahedral crystal particle, which is composed of Fe2O3, Fe3O4, Al2O3 and NaFeO2, and the other is the interlayer corrosion between the surface layer and the matrix, which is composed of FeS, FeS2 and MnS2. At day 3, the dynamics of the Q235 steel electrode is controlled by charge transfer and ion diffusion. However, at other times the dynamics are mainly controlled by charge transfer.