Corrosion study of HK-40m alloy exposed to molten sulfate/vanadate mixtures using the electrochemical noise technique

Corrosion performance of HK-40m alloy obtained from electrochemical noise technique and polarization curves during 24 h of exposure in high sulfate (80 mol% Na₂SO₄-20 mol% V₂O₅) and high vanadate (80 mol% V₂O₅-20 mol% Na₂SO₄) molten salts at 700 °C are reported. Electrochemical noise signals were analyzed in the time and frequency domain. A statistical analysis obtaining the resistance noise, the current standard deviation and the localization index are presented as well as the determination of corrosion rates. Corrosion rates were supported by X-ray diffraction analysis of corrosion products and scanning electron microscopy analysis of corroded samples. Results from optical microscope examination of the corroded samples showed that HK-40m alloy suffered inter-granular corrosion when was exposed to the high vanadate salt, whereas exposed to the high sulfate salt, HK-40m corroded through a mixed corrosion process. A corrosion mechanism of HK-40m alloy was obtained together with the corrosion rate, showing the different behavior when exposing the alloy to a high vanadate and high sulfate molten salts.