Corrosion behavior of various steels in a continuous flow of carbon dioxide containing impurities

Various steels were exposed to a continuous flow of carbon dioxide containing sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, oxygen, and humidity (water) at different temperatures. At 170 degrees C only slight surface effects were observed. Corrosion effects became more pronounced with decreasing temperatures and increasing humidity. Acidic condensation, mainly consisting of sulfuric acid, was detected during exposure at 5 degrees C that caused severe corrosion effects and material losses on low alloyed carbon steels and slight corrosion effects on carbon containing chromium steels. No corrosion occurred on high alloyed steel 1.4162. Corrosion products revealed low crystallinity both microscopically and by X-ray diffraction. Some phases containing sulfate but no carbonate were indentified. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.