The role of NaCl in the hot-corrosion behavior of Nimonic alloy 90

Abstract

The influence of sodium chloride on the hot-corrosion behavior of Nimonic alloy 90 has been investigated by employing the half-immersion, crucible test. Nimonic 90 samples were hot corroded in the presence of NaCl between 700–900°C. The results showed that the weight-loss plots with both time and temperature were linear indicating the catastrophic nature of attack. An examination of the corroded samples by XRD, XRF, EPMA, SEM, and chemical analysis indicated that as the corrosion time increased, an increase in the depletion of alloying constituents like Cr, Al, Ti, and Co took place with a resultant enrichment of nickel on the alloy surface. The formation of CoCl₂ and Na₂CrO₄ was observed in all the tests. A few experiments were carried out in the presence of Na₂SO₄ and in a 1% NaCl mixture, in order to see the influence of NaCl on Na₂SO₄. The results indicated that Na₂SO₄ is innocuous when compared with NaCl. However, the severe attack was observed in the presence of the 1% NaCl mixture between 700–800°C, i.e., above the eutectic temperature and the m.p. of NaCl (800°C). The corrosion was minimum, when the salt mixture existed in the molten state. All the corroded samples were magnetic in nature. The role of NaCl on the hot-corrosion behavior of Nimonic 90 has been discussed in the light of the above crucible-test investigations.