Oxidation Behavior of NiFe2O4 Spinel-Coated Interconnects in Wet Air

Corrosion of boilers and heat exchangers is accelerated in the presence of vanadium, sodium, and sulfur from low-grade fuels. Several iron- and nickel-based alloys were immersed in 60 mol% V₂O₅–40Na₂SO₄ salt for 1000 h in order to investigate their degradation behavior at 600 °C in air. Materials performance was analyzed by means of substrate recession rate and metallographic characterization. Their corrosion mechanism is characterized by the formation of a sulfide/oxide layer adjacent to the metal, the dissolution of scale oxides in the molten deposit, and their precipitation near the outer surface of the deposit. High Ni- and Cr-containing alloys show the lowest metal loss rates. Al addition was detrimental due to low-melting eutectic AlVO₄–V₂O₅ formation. Fe–Cr-based alloys showed the highest metal loss rates. In such alloys, high Cr additions (above 20%) did not improve the performance due to the negative synergetic effect by simultaneous dissolution of Fe₂O₃ and Cr₂O₃. The predominant salt composition at the corrosion front varied from vanadate rich to sulfate rich during the exposure. This change in the attacking salt makes it difficult to find a protective material for mixed sulfate–vanadate-induced corrosion.