Highly Molybdenum-Alloyed Materials Hastelloy BC-1 (2.4708) and B3 (2.4600): Diffusion Bonding Experiments and Evaluation of both Mechanical Behavior and Corrosion Resistance in Hot 70% Sulfuric Acid

Abstract

Sulfuric acid is a widely used raw material in the chemical industry. Its corrosive effect on materials varies considerably, depending on impurities, temperature and water content. This is an issue for micro process apparatuses with thin walls. Such devices are often joint by diffusion bonding what may alter materials properties due to high temperatures and long dwell times. In this paper, two high molybdenum alloys, namely Hastelloy B3 and BC-1, were investigated. Diffusion bonding tests were performed at different temperatures. Tensile tests were carried out for different material conditions, to determine the change in mechanical strength and elongation at fracture values. The fracture behavior of both alloys was ductile and the fracture surfaces showed dimple structure. For diffusion bonded samples, weak spots or rather non-bonded areas were found. These obviously caused the onset of material failure and thus, degradation of mechanical properties. Tensile samples, aged in 70% sulfuric acid at 100 °C for 1000 h showed local corrosion attacks at the grain boundaries at the circumferential surfaces and joining planes—for Hastelloy B3 more pronounced than for Hastelloy BC-1. Accordingly, a further decrease of stress and elongation at fracture values was observed. However, 0.2% yield strength used for dimensioning components are found to be reasonable. As conclusion, at least Hastelloy BC-1 reveals both good mechanical properties and an excellent corrosion resistance, regardless of the heat treatment. This is a significant advance compared to the results obtained from a previously research project on four different alloys.