CORROSION OF IRON BASE ALLOYS AND HIGH-ALLOY STEELS IN THE LI2CO3-K2CO3 EUTECTIC MIXTURE

The corrosion of binary iron alloys and of three high alloy steels was investigated in the eutectic 62 mol% Li2CO3-38 mol% K2CO3 mixture at 650 degrees C in N-2-15 vol.% O-2 With 15 and 25 vol.% CO2. Iron corro des very fast in contact with the melt, forming layers of Fe3O4 and Fe 2O3, which is converted to LiFeO2 and LiFe5O8. The high alloy steels c orrode much slower than iron. After short reaction time, alloys contai ning 16 and 18 Wt.% chromium form Fe2O3 and FeCr2O4. With time, Fe2O3 is converted to LiFeO2 and LiFe5O8. High chromium steels form Cr2O3 an d Fe2O3. The CT2O3 reacts with the melt to form K2CrO4 and LiCrO2, Fe2 O3 is converted to LiFeO2. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.