Oxidation behaviour of mild steel in molten alkali metal salts deposits

Abstract

The oxidation behaviour of commercial mild steel has been investigated in presence of alkali metal salts viz. NaCl, Na2CC>3, KC1, K2CO3 in the temperature at 750°C for the period of 36 h in atmospheric condition. The low temperature oxidation kinetic and effect of alkali metal salts deposition on the corrosion rate were studied. The Na2C03— & K2CO3- coated steel seems to be aggressive than NaCl & KC1, being an active oxidizing agent providing additional oxygen during fluxing reaction. However, due to profuse evolution of CO/CO2 heavy mass losses are observed during corrosion and scales are porous. The tests included mass change monitoring and surface morphology examination were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques.