The Corrosion Behavior of Li/K Carbonate Melts with CaCO3 Additives on Separator Plate in the Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell in the Anode Environments

High temperature corrosion behavior of AISI-type 316L stainless steel for the MCFC(molten carbonate fuel cell) bipolar application was studied by immersion test and penetration attack method in anode environment ($650^{\circ}C$, $Li_2CO_3/K_2CO_3=62/38$ mol%, $H_2/CO_2=80/20$ vol%) without or with different $CaCO_3$ content. Not only immersion test method but also morphological observation of samples in the carbonate melts are adopted as experimental methods. With aid of the morphological observation of cross section of samples immersed in a carbonate melt was possible to obtain penetration attack. The concentration effect of $CaCO_3$ inhibitor was investigated in order to verify the optimum concentration for practical application in MCFC stack operation. The corrosion rate in the presence of $CaCO_3$ was proven to be decreased as a function of $CaCO_3$ concentration. The corrosion rate in the presence of $CaCO_3$ was measured with a value of 6.9 mpy which is 2.4 times lower than that of inhibitor-free electrolyte. The cross section microscopy revealed that the internal penetration by oxidation in molten carbonate is very severe. In this case, the attack was occurred not only dissolution loss in the electrolyte by corrosion reaction but also weight gain through oxide layer by internal penetration.