Effect of material and environmental factors on FAC rate and on characteristics of oxide film of carbon steels

Combined effects of Cr content and pH on corrosion rate of carbon steels due to flow accelerated corrosion have been examined by experiments and their relation to oxide scale characteristics based on detailed oxide layer characterizations using transmission electron microscope with X-ray analyzer have been discussed. Effect of Cr content on FAC mitigation decrease continuously as pH is increased from neutral to 10.4 and effect of pH on that increase significantly from pH 9.1 to 9.4. Obvious Cr enrichment has been observed in the oxide layer of 1.01 wt % Cr content steel regardless pH condition. Cr concentration is highest at top surface of oxide layer, and that decrease from surface to oxide / metal interface gradually. It has been suggested that Cr enrichment stabilize oxide layer (decrease solubility and defect density of oxide layer), as a result, FAC suppressed. (author)