Effect of Water Vapor on High-Temperature Corrosion under Conditions Mimicking Biomass Firing

The variable flue gas composition in biomass-fired plants, among other parameters, contributes to the complexityof high-temperature corrosion of materials. Systematic parameter studies are thus necessary to understand the underlyingcorrosion mechanisms. This paper investigates the effect of water (H₂O) vapor content in the flue gas on the high-temperaturecorrosion of austenitic stainless steel (TP 347H FG) under laboratory conditions, to improve the understanding of corrosionmechanisms. Deposit-coated and deposit-free samples were isothermally exposed for 72 h in a synthetic flue gas atmospherecontaining either 3 or 13 vol % H₂O vapor. Comprehensive characterization of the corrosion products was carried out by thecomplementary use of microscopic, spectroscopic, and diffraction-based techniques. To evaluate the effect of the exposure time,results were compared to previous results with longer isothermal exposure over 168 h and indicated that the development of aNi-rich layer as a result of selective attack was time-dependent. The increase in the water vapor decreased the measurablecorrosion attack, and in addition, decreased sulfation was observed. Results from the current investigation and from previouslyreported findings suggest that an increase in the water vapor content will cause competitive adsorption on active sites.