Corrosion of 20Kh13 steel in lead melts saturated with oxygen

• Published in: Materials science (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 41; no. 5; pp. 603 - 608
• Main Authors: Eliseeva, O. I., Tsisar, V. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer Nature B.V 01.09.2005
• ISSN: 1068-820X; 1573-885X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11003-006-0020-x

We study the high-temperature interaction (650°C, 500 h) of 20Kh13 chromium steel with melts of stagnant lead saturated with oxygen (C ^sub O [Pb]^ [asymptotically =] 6 · 10^sup -3^ wt.%). First (up to 200 h), separate islands of Me^sub 3^O^sub 4^ oxides (Me: Fe, Cr, Pb) are formed on the steel surface. In the course of time (for 500 h), these islands completely cover the steel surface as a result of lateral growth. The upper part of the oxide layer is formed by the (Fe^sub 1 - x^Pb^sub x^) O · Fe^sub 2^ O3 complex oxide growing from the initial "solid-metal--melt" interface toward the liquid-metal medium. The inner part of the oxide layer is spinel [(Fe^sub 1 - x^Pb^sub x^) O · (Fe^sub 1 - y^Cr^sub y^)^sub 2^O3] enriched with chromium and formed on the basis of the matrix. Both layers symmetrically grow with respect to the initial "solid-metal--melt" interface. Lead does not penetrate into the steel matrix and is fixed only in the oxide layer.