Corrosion of silicon-based ceramics in combustion environments

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1993.tb03684.x· OSTI ID:6464365

Jacobson, N S ^[1]

---

1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (United States). Lewis Research Center

Silicon-based ceramics and composites are prime candidates for heat engines and heat exchanger structural components. In such applications these materials are exposed to combustion gases and deposit-forming corrodents. In this paper combustion environments are defined for various applications. These environments lead to five main types of corrosive degradation: passive oxidation, deposit-induced corrosion, active oxidation, scale/substrate interactions, and scale volatility. Each of these is discussed in detail. The key issues in oxidation mechanisms of high-purity silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon nitride (Si[sub 3]N[sub 4]) in pure oxygen are discussed. The complicating factors due to the actual combustion environment and commercial materials are discussed. These discussions include secondary elements in the ceramics; additional oxidants, such as water and carbon dioxide (CO[sub 2]); combustion environment impurities; long-term oxidation effects; and thermal cycling. Active oxidation is expected in a limited number of combustion situations, and the active-to-passive transition is discussed. At high temperatures the limited factors are scale melting, scale volatility, and scale/substrate interactions. Deposit-induced corrosion is discussed, primarily for sodium sulfate (Na[sub 2]SO[sub 4]), but also for vanadate and oxide-slag deposits as well. In applying ceramics in combustion environments it is essential to be aware of these corrosion routes and how they affect the performance of a component.

• OSTI ID: 6464365
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States) Vol. 76:1; ISSN 0002-7820; ISSN JACTAW
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360205* -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Corrosion & Erosion
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CERAMICS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
CORROSION
DEPOSITION
DEPOSITS
ELEMENTS
ENGINES
HEAT ENGINES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
IMPURITIES
NITRIDES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXIDIZERS
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PNICTIDES
SILICON CARBIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON NITRIDES
SILICON OXIDES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM SULFATES
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
THERMAL CYCLING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VANADATES
VANADIUM COMPOUNDS