Surface characterisation and crevice corrosion behaviour of nickel-based alloys in the paper industry

Abstract

Recycled water in the paper industry acts as a stronger electrolyte as its concentration and temperature are quite high. The lower pH that exists in these solutions enhances the corrosion and the high concentration of solids leads to leaching of metal ions from surface. Crevice corrosion is a form of localised attack, which can quickly induce metal perforation even with high grade stainless steels like 316L when the protective chromium oxide film is damaged. A specially designed crevice cell assembly was used to study the electrochemical aspects of nickel-based alloys with the commonly used 316L SS. The mounted specimen with its crevice was anodically polarised in a white water medium, which is normally encountered in the paper machine section. The nickel-based alloys show remarkable crevice corrosion resistance. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies revealed that the enhanced corrosion resistance of these alloys is due to the contributing nature of the individual elements Cr, Ni and Mo and their presence in the form of various oxidised species on the passive films.