DOE OSTI2022
Here, in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) diffraction and imaging techniques are used to monitor and quantify corrosion of Inconel-625 by pure molten chloride salts (MgCl 2 – NaCl – KCl) at 500 °C–800 °C in 1.0 atm inert N 2 or pure O2, or by salts which are controllably hydrated in a high vacuum chamber. The isothermal corrosion rate R in inert N 2 increases from 203 ± 30 μ m year –1 at 700 °C to 463 ± 30 μ m year –1 at 800 °C. An oxygen ambient causes a six-fold increase to R = 1261 ± 170 μ m year –1 at 700 °C. Salt hydration dramatically accelerates corrosion to R > 3 × 10 5 μ m year –1 at 700 °C while it leads to a more moderate R = 95 ± 20 and 486 ± 30 μ m year –1 at 500 °C and 600 °C, respectively. These isothermal corrosion rates indicate that the molten chloride corrosion is significantly accelerated by salt hydration at temperatures above 600 °C, where corrosion is aggravated by increased generation and solubility of corrosive HCl gases. Hence, to reduce rate of corrosion it is important to both avoid incorporation of H 2 O into the system at each stage and ensure proper flushing of the system before increasing the temperature beyond 600 °C. Compositional analysis of the corroded cells indicate that corrosion in O 2 ambient is dominated by oxidation of metals by O 2 gas dissolved in the chloride melt, but corrosion in H 2 O ambients is caused by chlorination of metals by dissolved HCl gas and MgOH + ions. So, to reduce rate of corrosion, steps should be taken to tailor chloride melt compositions that has low solubility for HCl and O 2 . All of our corroded samples exhibit passive-protective oxide layers of Cr, Mg, and Ni. In addition, distinct volatile compounds of Ni, Mo and Cr involving NiCl 2 , (Na,K) 2 MoO 4 and CrO 2 (OH) 2 are detected in N 2 , H 2 O, and O 2 ambients, respectively. We believe that corrosion acceleration can be minimized by minimizing formation of volatile by-products or promoting reactions that could convert these volatile compounds to solid phases, as these volatile compounds led to destruction of protective oxide layers.