Influence of elemental sulfur on the corrosion mechanism of X80 steel in supercritical CO2-saturated aqueous phase environment

The corrosion mechanisms of X80 steel under conditions containing elemental sulfur (S) were investigated in a supercritical CO2-saturated aqueous phase environment. The uniform corrosion rate slightly increased with immersion time in the absence of S, while it decreased with immersion time in the presence of S, and pitting was induced. There were two polymorphs of FeOOH in this study: alpha-FeOOH, which formed in an S-free environment by conversion of Fe(NO3)(3); gamma-FeOOH, which formed in the presence of S by conversion of FeSO4. There were also two polymorphs of Fe2O3: alpha-Fe2O3 could be formed by Fe(OH)(3) in both environments, while gamma-Fe2O3 could be formed from alpha-FeOOH in an S-free environment or gamma-FeOOH in the presence of S. The S could cause pitting through the acid regeneration cycle reaction and occluded corrosion defects. Moreover, FeS gradually replaced FeCO3 to protect the substrate in the S-containing environment.

Automated summary

The corrosion rate of X80 steel decreased and pitting occurred in the presence of sulfur, which could induce an acid regeneration cycle reaction and occluded corrosion defects. Additionally, FeS gradually replaced FeCO3 to protect the substrate in the sulfur-containing environment.