Corrosion Resistance of Zirconium and Zirconium Alloys in Inorganic Acids and Alkalies

Abstract

Laboratory test data are given on the reactions of zirconium Grades R60702, R60704, and R60705 in sulfuric, phosphoric, nitric, hydrochloric, and hydrobromic acids and in caustics. At concentrations and temperatures in which zirconium has excellent resistance, the different grades corrode equivalently. Isocorrosion curves, taken from data obtained from a literature survey, are presented for sulfuric, phosphoric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids. Isocorrosion curves from data from the Teledyne Wah Chang Albany laboratory are presented for all the grades of zirconium with and without welds in sulfuric acid. The welds were found to be more susceptible to corrosion attack than the nonheated parent metal. The weld areas could be made less susceptible to attack in sulfuric acid by recrystallization heat treatment.