THE CORROSION BEHAVIOR OF HAFNIUM AND HAFNIUM ALLOYS IN HIGH TEMPERATURE WATER AND STEAM

Technical Report · Mon Aug 14 04:00:00 EDT 1961

OSTI ID:4831868

Dearing, B E; Andrako, A M

Synthettc hafnium alloys containing tantalum, lutetium, and tungsten were corrosion tested in 550 and 680 deg F deoxygenated-deionized neutral water, and in 680 and 750 deg F steam. In addition, the alloys were corrosion tested ln pH 11.0 LiOH and pH 10.0 NH/sub 4/OH environment. Alloy additions of 0.36 wt% tantalum and 0.094 wt% lutetium to hafnium produced a measurable decrease in the corrosion resistance to 550 deg F water. At 680 deg F the corrosion behavior of the hafnium alloys appears to be more sensitive to steam than water. Tests in high pH environments (pH ll LlOH and pH l0 NH/sub 4/OH) showed the corrosion resistance of the hafnium alloys tested was not adversely affected when compared with 680 deg F water. Alloy additions as low as 0.-22 wt% tantalum and 0.07 wt% lutetium produced a measurable decrease in the corrosion resistance of hafnium in 750 deg F steam and 680 deg F water. Additions of tungsten drastically decreased the corrosion resistance of hafnium. Additions of 0.05 wt% iron to hafnium alloys containing 0.4 wt% tantalum improved the 750 deg F steam corrosion resistance but did not completely counteract the adverse effect of tantalum. Iron additions to hafnium alone can improve the 750 deg F steam corrosion resistance and leave the good 680 deg F water corrosion resistance unaltered. Additions of iron and tin to hafnium, however, reduced the corrosion resistance to 750 deg F steam. A heat treatment of 1 hour at 1150 deg C followed by a rapid air quench was found to sharply reduce the corrosion resistance of hafnium in 750 deg F steam. (auth)

• Research Organization: Knolls Atomic Power Lab., Schenectady, N.Y.
• DOE Contract Number: W-31-109-ENG-52
• NSA Number: NSA-16-003407
• OSTI ID: 4831868
• Report Number(s): KAPL-M-BED-4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACIDITY
AIR
AMMONIA
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
CORROSION
HAFNIUM
HAFNIUM ALLOYS
HEAT TREATMENTS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROXIDES
IRON ALLOYS
LITHIUM HYDROXIDES
LUTETIUM ALLOYS
LUTETIUM COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS TESTING
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
QUENCHING
STEAM
TANTALUM ALLOYS
TEMPERATURE
TIN ALLOYS
TUNGSTEN ALLOYS
WATER