Role of silicon in the formation of the corrosion resistance of austenitic materials for cryogenic engineering

The effect of silicon on the operational efficiency and corrosion resistance of low-temperature equipment made of 12Kh18N12T chromium-nickel steel has been studied. The specific features of the cryogenic equipment consist in high-temperature heating procedures between operation periods. Equipment for gas liquefaction and cleaning aimed at the restoration of the operational efficiency of filtration and catalysis systems serves as an example. The heating temperature of this equipment can reach 800°C. Experimental steels containing 0.09–1.03 wt % Si are subjected to intercrystalline corrosion tests. Upon heating to 550–600°C, silicon is found to increase the corrosion resistance of the steel, and, upon heating at higher temperatures, silicon plays a negative role. This is caused by the distribution of silicon atoms along grain boundaries, namely, a nonuniform silicon distribution with the formation of high-and low-concentration regions, i.e., the formation of clusters of silicon-phase preprecipitates.