Corrosion resistance of iron-chromium-aluminium steel in eutectic molten salts under thermal cycling conditions

Abstract

The corrosion resistance of Fe-Cr-Al alloy in four types of eutectic molten salts under thermal cycling conditions has been investigated using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope techniques. The results show that thermal cycling can result in relatively higher corrosion rates compared with isothermal conditions, which might be connected closely to the thermal stress. Under the same conditions, the corrosion strength of the four eutectic salts should be in the order of chloride salt > mixture composed of carbonate salt and magnesium oxide > carbonate salt > nitrate salt for Fe-Al-Cr alloy, no matter for static corrosion or thermal cycling corrosion.