Hot Corrosion Mechanism of Steels Exposed to Heavy Metal Chlorides and Sulphates in SO₂ Environment

Copper flash smelting produces flue dust containing SO₂-rich exhaust gas, causing corrosion problems in the heat recovery boiler of the gas train. In order to understand the corrosion behaviour of boiler steels, conditions of the boiler were simulated in the laboratory. Corrosion damage occurred as chlorine reacted with steel surfaces forming chlorides which deplete the steels from their alloying metals. At the scale/dust deposit interface, where the highest sulphur partial pressures prevail, a sulphate layer covered the mixed oxide and chloride scale. Molten sulphate deposit reduced the metal loss of AISI 304 steel by preventing chromium chloride diffusion away from the steel surface. The Cr₂O₃ scales were quite stable under molten sulphates. The dust deposit melted partially due to the presence of ZnCl₂ in the deposit which initiated corrosion damage by producing a molten salt layer on the steel surfaces bringing it in contact with aggressive compounds in the copper smelter flue dust.