Na2SO4-Deposit-Induced Corrosion of Mo-Containing Alloys

Disk alloys used in advanced gas turbine engines often contain significant amounts of Mo (2 wt% or greater), which is known to cause corrosion under Type I hot corrosion conditions (at temperatures around 900 degrees C) due to alloy-induced acidic fluxing. The corrosion resistance of several model and commercial Ni-based disk alloys with different amounts of Mo with and without Na2SO4 deposit was examined at 700 degrees C in air and in SO2-containing atmospheres. When coated with Na2SO4 those alloys with 2 wt% or more Mo showed degradation products similar to those observed previously in Mo-containing alloys, which undergo alloy-induced acidic fluxing Type I hot corrosion even though the temperatures used in the present study were in the Type II hot corrosion range. Extensive degradation was observed even after exposure in air. The reason for the observed degradation is the formation of sodium molybdate. Transient molybdenum oxide reacts with the sodium sulfate deposit to form sodium molybdate which is molten at the temperature of study, i.e., 700 degrees C, and results in a highly acidic melt at the salt alloy interface. This provides a negative solubility gradient for the oxides of the alloying elements, which results in continuous fluxing of otherwise protective oxides.