Accelerated Corrosion of Stainless Steels in the Presence of Molten Carbonate below 923 K

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe high temperature corrosion of stainless steels (SUS316L and SUS310S) in the presence of molten carbonate [(Li0.62K0.8)2CO3 and (Li0.52Na0.48)2CO3] has been studied in a CO2-O2 atmosphere by measuring the weight gain of the specimens.The corrosion of SUS316L significantly depended on the reaction conditions. With the carbonate coating (both Li/Na and Li/K carbonates), severe corrosion occurred during the initial period of the corrosion test below 923 K, especially around 823 K. The initial severe corrosion was a local corrosion which produced through holes in the metal specimens and occurred more clearly at low Pco2 with the Li/Na coating than with the Li/K coating. The corrosion became more severe at higher CO2 pressures and lower O2 pressures. In a pure CO2 atmosphere (without O2), the corrosion rate significantly increased at 823 K. The steel was corroded uniformly at that time.