Corrosion of Austenitic Steels and Their Components in Vanadium-Containing Chloride Melts

Corrosion behavior of stainless steel types AISI 316L, 316Ti and 321 and their components (iron, chromium, nickel and molybdenum) was studied at 750 0C in NaCl-KCl-VCl2 melts. It was found that iron, chromium and manganese species constitute the major corrosion products of austenitic steels and Fe2+, Cr2+, Ni2+, and Mo3+ ions are formed as a result of interaction of corresponded metal and vanadium-containing chloride melts. It was found that austenitic stainless steels are subjected to high temperature sensitization and this phenomenon determines the intergranular character of steel corrosion. Presence of vanadium ions in electrolyte leads to intensification of corrosion processes due to increased oxidation of electronegative steel components and alloy formation. Metallic molybdenum has highest corrosion resistance among studied construction materials.