Accelerated Corrosion of Pure Fe Induced by Gaseous ZnCl2 at High Temperatures
Accelerated Corrosion of Pure Fe Induced by Gaseous ZnC12 at High Tempreratures

ZnCl2 is one of the dominant aggressive species in waste incinerators or other advanced combustion power generation systems. In this study, the influence of minor amount of gaseous ZnCl2 on the corrosion behavior of pure iron was examined at 600~800 °C in a pure oxygen environment. The corrosion rate usually increased markedly with increasing temperatures at a fixed ZnCl2 content or with increased ZnCl2 contents at a constant temperature. The corrosion products were composed of a thin outer layer of ZnFe2O4 spinel and an inner zone with a much thicker layer of Fe2O3, which exhibited a serious separation from the matrix. Moreover, a molten FeCl2 layer was observed at the scale substrate interface. The accelerated corrosion of pure iron was attributed to the existence of FeCl2 with low melting point on the metal surface, which destroyed the cohesion and adhesion of the oxide scale. The results are discussed in relation to the thermodynamic factors and the presence of volatile compounds in the reaction system.