The effect of long-term exposure in mixed sulfuric acid and copper sulfate solution on corrosion behavior of austenitic stainless steels

Abstract

Corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steels in sulfuric acid solutions depends mainly on concentration and temperature of the sulfuric acid, the presence of contaminants and velocity flow. Current studies aim mostly at evaluation of electrochemical parameters in sulfuric acid solutions. Research focused on long-term exposure is lacking. This article deals with the corrosion behavior of AISI 304 and AISI 316L stainless steels in mixed 10 wt. % sulfuric acid and 10 wt. % copper sulfate solution. Sensitized (650 °C/40 hours) and solution annealed (1050 °C/15 min) specimens together with the untreated (as received) ones are evaluated by long-term (22-month) exposure immersion test at the temperature of 22 ± 3 °C on the bases of optical microscopy, SEM and mass losses. Both tested stainless steels in as received and solution annealed state proved high corrosion resistance in the given corrosive environment. The cross-sections edges of sensitized specimens revealed a close relationship between local corrosion sites and weakened grain boundaries, which indicates incipient intergranular corrosion.