On-Site Corrosion Behavior of T91 Steel after Long-Term Service in Power Plant

In this work, on-site corrosion behavior of heat resistant tubes of T91, used as components of a superheater in a power plant for up to 25,762 h, has been investigated using scanning electron microscopy(SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and electron backscattered diffraction(EBSD), with the objectives of studying the composition, phase distribution, and evolution during service. A multi-layer structure of oxide scale was found on both the steamside and the fireside of the tube surface; the phase distribution was in the order of hematite/magnetite/spinel from the outer to the inner matrix on the steamside, and in the order of slag/magnetite/spinel from the outer to the inner matrix on the fireside. The magnetite layer was found to be rich in pores and cracks. The absence of a hematite layer on the fireside was considered to be due to the low oxygen partial pressure in the corrosion environment. The thicknesses of the hematite and of the slag-deposit layer were found to exhibit no significant change with the increase of the service time.