Microbial-induced corrosion in nuclear power plant materials

The long construction times associated with nuclear plants and the large number of redundant or standby systems where water is allowed to remain stagnant for long periods of time produce conditions under which microbial-induced corrosion (MIC) can occur. Carbon and low-alloy steels, stainless steels and copper alloys are all susceptible to MIC in raw-water applications. Visual examination is particularly useful in performing preliminary assessments of MIC. If properly diagnosed, MIC can be effectively treated during plant construction, operation and temporary shutdowns.     

Hot corrosion of materials: Fundamental studies

Hot corrosion is the accelerated oxidation of materials at elevated temperatures induced by a thin film of fused salt deposit. Because of its high thermodynamic stability in the mutual presence of sodium and sulfur impurities in an oxidizing gas, Na₂SO₄ is often found to be the dominant salt in the deposit. The corrosive oxyanion-fused salts are usually ionically conducting electrolytes that exhibit an acid/base chemistry, so that hot corrosion must occur by an electrochemical mechanism that may involve fluxing of the protective oxides. With the aid of high-temperature reference electrodes to quantify an acid/base scale, the solubilities for various metal oxides in fused Na₂SO₄ have been measured, and these show remarkable agreement with the theoretical expectations from the thermodynamic phase stability diagrams for the relevant Na-Metal-S-O systems. The solubilities of several oxides infused Na₂SO₄-NaVO₃ salt solutions have also been measured and modeled. Such information is important both in evaluating the corrosion resistance of materials and in interpreting any oxide fluxing/reprecipitation mechanisms. Various electrochemical measurements have identified the S₂O₇ ^2? anion (dissolved SO₃) as the oxidant that is reduced in the hot corrosion process. Electrochemical polarization studies have elucidated the corrosion reactions and clarified the corrosion kinetics of alloys. Mechanistic models for Type I and Type II hot corrosion are discussed briefly.     

Indoor atmospheric corrosion of electronic materials in tropical-mountain environments

Indoor corrosion rate during one year exposure for carbon steel, copper, nickel, and tin was determined in three different atmospheres in Colombia. In addition, pollutants deposition rates and environmental parameters were also measured during indoor-outdoor conditions. The results show higher pollutant deposition in outdoor conditions, while inside metallic boxes the pollutant deposition significantly diminishes. No difference for relative humidity values was found between inside and outside measurements. For all samples, except nickel, the corrosion rate decrease with exposure time. The nature of corrosion products was found to be related to the exposure conditions.     

The corrosion behavior of porous Ni3Al intermetallic materials in strong alkali solution

Porous Ni₃Al alloys was prepared by cold pressing and reactive synthesis of Ni and Al elemental powders via the Kirkendall effect. Corrosion behavior of porous Ni₃Al alloys was investigated by electrochemical tests and weight change measurements. Polarization resistance indicated that porous Ni₃Al had more positive free corrosion potential and lower corrosion current than porous Ni and porous Ti and exhibited a wider passive region. The immersion test revealed that after 2000 h immersion, the weight change and pore structure of porous Ni₃Al stayed stable in KOH solution. The influence of temperature on corrosion behavior and corrosion mechanism of porous Ni₃Al were also discussed.     

The role of interface structure in spallation of a layered nanocomposite

Interfaces in nanostructured materials play a central role in endowing some extraordinary properties to certain nanolayered composites. Here, we examine how interfaces influence spallation under extreme strain-rate loading using atomistic simulations, and illustrate how even at the picosecond-scale the interface structure, or lack thereof, governs dynamic fracture.     

Progress in corrosion resistant materials for supercritical water reactors

Supercritical water reactors (SCWRs) are a kind of high-temperature, high-pressure water-cooled reactors that operate above the thermodynamic critical point of water (374 °C, 22.1 MPa). Corrosion and degradation of materials used in supercritical water environments are determined by several environment- and material-dependent factors. In particular, irradiation-induced changes in microstructure and microchemistry are major concerns in a nuclear reactor. Many structural materials including alloys and ceramics have been proposed for use as SCWR components or materials for applying protective coatings in SCWRs. Various surface modification processes are also explored to change the chemical composition and microstructure of the near surface regions. This article aims to provide an overview of recent materials developments for supercritical water reactors focusing mainly on the nuclear reactor applications. The emphasis is placed on the corrosion and degradation mechanisms and the selection criteria of materials. In addition, the development of new processes for surface modification of materials in SCWRs is also briefly reviewed. Finally, some perspectives on the direction of future research in this area are also outlined.     

Fireside corrosion of superheater materials in chlorine containing flue gas

Corrosion resistance of three types of candidate materials for superheater sections under simulated waste incineration conditions was evaluated. A 9Cr1Mo steel, an AISI 310SS, and the Ni-based alloy Sanicro 28 were tested on a laboratory and on a pilot scale with different flue gas compositions (up to 2500 mg/Nm³ of HCl and 1500 mg/Nm³ of fly ash). Laboratory tests were carried out in a furnace up to 200 h. Metal and gas temperature were kept constant at 500 °C. Pilot scale tests were carried out by using a 0.3 × 0.3 m cross-sectional combustor, with flue gas velocity of 5 m/s. Air-cooled probes, designed to operate at a metal temperature of 500 °C and facing gas temperatures as high as 600 °C, were used for 200 h as maximum test time. Qualitative correspondence was found between results obtained by the two sets of experimental tests, but quantitative values were not comparable. Metallographic evaluations, metal loss measurements, and weight loss analysis evidenced as the most suitable alloy Sanicro28. Maximum metal loss observed was 240, 182, and 107 μm, respectively, for 9Cr1Mo, AISI310SS, and Sanicro 28 under the most aggressive conditions. Intergranular corrosion attack was evidenced for AISI310SS, limiting the choice of materials to 9Cr1Mo and Sanicro 28, depending upon the lifetime expected at the design stage.     

Atmospheric corrosion of historical organ pipes: The influence of environment and materials

The corrosion of lead-rich pipes in historical organs in different parts of Europe has been investigated. The influence of the environment and the composition and microstructure of the pipe metal was studied. Pipe corrosion was documented by visual inspection (boroscope). The corrosion attack and the composition and microstructure of the metal were characterized by OM, SEM, XRD, IC and FAAS. It is shown that the degree of corrosion of the pipes is correlated to the concentration of gaseous acetic and formic acid in the organ. The organic acids are emitted by the wood from which the wind system is built. It is also shown that pipe corrosion decreases with increasing tin content in the range 0-4% (wt). Possible conservation strategies are discussed.     

Long term corrosion characteristics of metallic materials in marine environments

Abstract

Long term corrosion test data in marine environments are essential data to guide the design and application of marine engineering. Corrosion test results, over a 16 year period from October 1986 to October 2002, using eight kinds of metallic materials are reported in this paper. Materials were exposed in the splash zone, tidal zone, and full immersion zone of four corrosion test stations located in Qingdao, Zhoushan, Xiamen and Yulin respectively, and therefore the corrosion behaviour of various ferrous and non-ferrous materials in these marine environments has been obtained. The corrosion of carbon steel in the seawater fits the following general relationship: D=A+K(t–1). The variation in the general corrosion rates for the different carbon steels in seawater is relatively small and consistent. However, the pitting corrosion rates for the different carbon steels are all significantly different. The marine splash zone is about 0–2˙4 m above the mean high water level of the seawater. The corrosion peak was located about 0˙6 to 1˙2 m above the mean high water level. The order of the corrosion potential of stainless steels with the corrosion resistance of stainless steels is consistent in seawater. The corrosion of copper was found to be serious in the full immersion zone of the Yulin sea area. The effective lifetime of the cathodic protection for a wrapped aluminising layer of the hard and ultrahard aluminium may be 16 years.     

Influence of atmospheric pollution on corrosion of materials in Saudi Arabia

Research has been carried out for 7 years in eight marine atmospheres with annual average chloride deposition rates of 63–704?mg Cl^?/m² day and sulphur dioxide deposition rates of 6.851–10.887?mg SO₂/m² day. A study of environmental parameters: temperature, relative humidity, airborne chloride and SO₂ on the site have been accomplished. Apart from this, the paper also considers the corrosion rates of carbon steel, stainless steel (AISI 304) and galvanised steel and the resulting corrosion products and layers, and their dependence of atmospheric salinity of the site. X-ray diffraction analyses were carried out in order to understand the lepidocrocite and goethite, high akaganeite and magnetite contents of corrosion products. Corrosion rates were determined by weight loss. The aggressive classification was made as per the ISO 9223. Moreover, a technique for calculation of coefficients in the power-linear function for long-term prediction of metal corrosion losses of exposed metals and alloy are presented.     

Hot corrosion of materials: a fluxing mechanism?

Hot corrosion is the accelerated oxidation of a material at elevated temperature induced by a thin film of fused salt deposit. Fused Na₂SO₄, which is the dominant salt involved in hot corrosion, is an ionic conductor, so that the corrosion mechanism is certainly electrochemical in nature. Further, the acid/base nature of this oxyanion salt offers the possibility for the dissolution (fluxing) of the normally protective oxide scale. Non-protective precipitated oxide particles are often observed in the corrosion products. In this paper, the status of knowledge for the solubilities of oxides in fused Na₂SO₄ is reviewed, and the effects of various influences on a fluxing mechanism are discussed. An evaluation of a “negative solubility gradient” as a criterion for continuing hot corrosion is made.     

A thermodynamically consistent modelling of stress corrosion tests in elasto-viscoplastic materials

Slow strain rate (SSR) and constant load (CL) tests are the most important techniques used to rank the susceptibility of different materials to stress corrosion cracking in a specific environment. The present paper proposes a thermodynamically consistent phenomenological framework to model both SSR and CL tests of austenitic steels in acid solutions at room temperature. This global one-dimensional approach does not require the computation of local stresses or strains. The goal is to discuss the thermodynamic aspects that allow proposing a one-dimensional model that combine mathematical simplicity with the capability of describing a complex non-linear mechanical behaviour.     

Electrochemically controlled pitting corrosion in Ni film: A study of AFM and neutron reflectometry

Electrochemical behavior of pitting corrosion of a Ni film, grown on Si substrate by sputtering, prepassivated in a chloride-free sulfuric acid solution and subsequently exposed to chloride above the pitting potential is reported. Specular and off-specular unpolarized neutron reflectometry and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) techniques have been used to determine the depth profile of scattering length density and morphology of as-deposited as well as corroded sample. Specular neutron reflectometry measurement of the film after corrosion shows density degradation along the thickness of film. The density profile as a function of depth, maps the growth of pitting and void networks due to corrosion. The AFM and off-specular neutron reflectivity measurements has suggested that the morphology of the film remains same after exposure of the film in chloride solution.     

微缺陷对铀材料腐蚀的影响规律研究现状

铀及铀合金是核工业中重要的结构和功能材料,其腐蚀状态对于材料的使役有效性有重要影响。材料学因素,包括组分、组织结构、内部和表面的缺陷状态等是影响铀材料耐蚀性能的内因。本文重点综述了铀材料中微缺陷对腐蚀的影响规律的研究现状,从杂质元素、夹杂、显微组织、表面状态四个方面系统梳理了国内外公开报道的研究工作和取得的规律认识。在此基础上,简要的提出了改善和消除微缺陷以提升铀材料耐蚀性能的策略。