Abstract
Inasmuch as steam temperatures in modern central stations are approaching those used for the commercial production of hydrogen by reaction between steam and iron, an investigation was undertaken at Purdue University of the corrosion by steam of the various steels which are available for high-temperature service. Apparatus was constructed and techniques developed for measuring the amount of corrosion on unstressed specimens due to temperatures up to approximately 1400 F, and pressures up to at least 1600 psi gage. Data are presented showing the effect of various types of surface finish and methods of scale removal, time of exposure to steam at 1100 F for various intervals of time up to 2000 hr, exposure for 500 hr at steady steam temperatures from 1000 F to approximately 1400 F, and temperature fluctuations on the corrosion resistance and spalling of scale on round bars, as well as convex, concave, and flat surfaces. Data on the corrosion of cast steels and some special alloys are also given. The resistance of alloy steels to high-temperature steam is greatly influenced by the amount of chromium present. Alloy steels containing 7 per cent or more of chromium are very resistant to corrosion produced by steam at temperatures up to at least 1400 F. The 18-8 stainless steels showed practically no corrosion when subjected to steam up to 1400 F.
