Effect of some ternary additions on the sulfidation of Ni-Mo alloys

Five ternary additions, Cr, Ti, Mn, V, and Al were studied at equi-atomicpercent levels (17 a/o) for their effect on the sulfidation behavior of Ni-19a/o Mo (28–30 w/o) over the range of 600–800°C in 0.01 atm S₂. Al was by far the most effective addition. A linear decrease in log k_p vs. Al content was observed up to 7.5w/o Al, beyond which no further change was observed. All alloys followed the parabolic rate law. Arrhenius plots gave activation energies of 36.9–41.2 Kcal/mol for alloys containing Ti, Cr, Mn, and V, whereas the activation energies for Al-containing alloys were 47.2 Kcal/mol, indicating that a different diffusion process was involved. Complex scales were formed on all alloys, consisting of an outer layer of Nis_1+x and complex inner layers which depended upon alloy composition. Two alloys, those with Cr and Mn, formed intermediate layers of Cr₂S₃ and MnS, respectively, but these layers had little effect on the kinetics. MoS₂ was a constituent of the inner scales except for the alloys with Al. A ternary sulfide, Al_0.55Mo₂S₄ and Al₂S₃ were observed. The presence of the mixed sulfide was always associated with the low sulfidation rates. The formation of MoS₂ on alloys results in a different, less-protective behavior than for MoS₂ formed on pure Mo. This effect is due to the intercalation of Ni into MoS₂ in octahedral positions between the weakly bonded layers of covalently bonded sheets of trigonal prisms. The size of Al⁺³ is too small to be intercalated, and thus MoS₂ is destabilized by Al.