Corrosion of 316L in liquid tellurium at 551 degrees C

Grade 316L stainless steel was exposed to liquid tellurium at 551 degrees C. Corrosion was rapid, leading to more than 100 mu m loss of steel section in 30 min. The corrosion product was a mixed telluride scale, which thickened according to parabolic kinetics whilst simultaneously dissolving at its outer surface into the liquid tellurium. A mathematical model based on diffusion-controlled scale growth coupled with dissolution at a rate controlled by liquid phase diffusion is shown to describe scaling and dissolution kinetics successfully. (authors)