Steam oxidation resistance of new 12%Cr steels: Comparison with some other ferritic steels

The oxidation resistance in pure steam at the 600-650 °C temperature range of a newly developed 12%Cr steel has been investigated for long-term exposures (224 days = 5,376 h). The laboratory and industrial heats were tested in comparison with other ferritic 9-13% chromium steels. Corrosion rates were determined by direct measurements of mass losses obtained after a reducing descaling process. Weight loss and metallographic results confirm the good corrosion resistance in steam of the new steel and allow classing the tested steels in 2 families: one classical with average oxidation behaviour, “T91-type” and another one with low mass losses, varying very slightly with the temperature and the exposure time increasing. To have a better understanding of the observed phenomena, the possible influences of the main alloying elements (Cr, Si, Mn, Mo, W) of steels mentioned by different authors were reviewed and compared to the results obtained for the ten 9-13%Cr studied steels. It appears that the alloying elements cannot be considered separately: as a matter of fact they have not only a specific influence but also a joint influence on the steam corrosion behaviour of the 9-13%Cr ferritic steels.