Zum Korrosionsverhalten nichtrostender austenitischer Chrom-Nickel-(Molybdän,Kupfer)-Stähle in nahezu wasserfreier Essigsäure

Corrosion of stainless austenitic steels in almost anhydrous acetic acid As-welded samples and looped specimens from 5 differently alloyed stainless steels were tested for up to 246 days in 99,5% to 99,95% acetic acid at 118°C (boiling temperature/normal pressure) and at 150°C; the chloride content was varied between < 1 and 100 ppm. Pitting corrosion – of shallow depth, however (approx. 0,1 mm) – was already observed at surprisingly low chloride concentrations. Only the following were found to be resistant to pitting corrosion:

• – stainless steels 1.4439 and 1.4539, containing approx. 4,5% molybdenum, in 99,5% acetic with < 1 ppm chloride at 118 and 150°C,
• – stainless steels 1.4439 and 1.4539 in 99,9% acetic acid with < 1 ppm chloride at 118°C, and
• – special stainless steel X 2 CrNiMoCuN 20 18 6, containing approx. 6% molybdenum, in 99,5% acetic acid with > 3, < 10 ppm chloride at 118 and 150°C.

Looped specimens and ground as-welded samples showed no sensitivity to transcrystalline, chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking at any of the concentration ranges. High surface-removal rates can be expected if air has access to the specimens; under this condition pitting corrosion and general corrosion may overlap. Contamination of acetic acid with chlorides must be prevented under all circumstances.