Electrochemical Studies of nickel

based super alloy GTM-SU-718 and

superni 276
ACHARYA RAGHAV Supervisor
M.TECH (2ND YEAR)
SEM Dr. M. K. Mohan
Professor of Metallurgical &
INDUSTRIAL
METALLURGY Materials Engineering

ROLL NO : 155501
 Introduction
Hot corrosion may be defined as accelerated corrosion, resulting from the presence
of salt contaminants such as Na2SO4, NaCl, and V2O5 etc. that combine to form
molten deposits, which damage the protective surface layer in the form of surface
oxides.
Hot corrosion generally occurs in hot section of gas turbine, furnace, diesel engines
etc
It causes damage to the material due to
sputtering and protective layer depletion.
The factors which affect hot corrosion are:
(1) Temperature (2) Alloy composition
(3) Severity of environment
(4) Composition of deposit
(5) Thickness of the deposit
Fig: Section of a gas turbine
 Hot corrosion is categorized into two parts:
Type I-High Temperature Hot Corrosion (HTHC)
HTHC is observed within the temperature range of 850-950.
Type II-Low Temperature Hot Corrosion (LTHC)
LTHC is observed in the temperature range of 650-800
Mechanism of hot corrosion
(i) Salt fluxing mechanism
(ii) Sulfidation mechanism
Major Applications High Pressure Turbines(as vanes & blades){High
Temperature}, Compressor Main Shaft{better mechanical properties i.e.
fracture toughness, high fatigue strength}, Exhaust Cone, Structural parts,
casings etc
 Need for present study
Nickel based superalloys are potential materials to be used in marine gas
turbines because of their good electrical, thermal and corrosion resistance
properties.
Presence of chromium decreases the mechanical strength but it is main
constituent in forming protective oxide layer during the hot corrosion process
which protects the substrate.
Behavior of the superalloys with different Cr and Ni mass percentage during
the hot corrosion process and determination of optimum percentage of Cr and
Ni in superalloys.
There are several reports in the literature, which revealed the corrosion of
nickel based superalloys at higher temperature.
But, very less information is found regarding hot corrosion behavior of GTM-
SU-718 and superni 276 . Only gravimetric studies, SEM and XRD studies
have been reported in the literature, those too only in a few environments. No
electrochemical studies have been reported.
 Objectives and scope of the present study
To study the hot corrosion behaviour of GTM-SU-718 and superni
276 in different molten salts environments.
To propose hot corrosion mechanism of GTM-SU-718 and superni
276
To study surface morphology of the corroded alloy
To determine corrosion rate (mpy) using potential dynamic
polarization studies
Calculation of the time constants to determine the aggressiveness
of the corrosive environments. {Time constant = Rct*Cdl, the values
of double layer capacitance is very low as compared to Rct. The
comparison is made by comparing the Rct values}
 Different corrosive environment
The corrosive environment and the temperature used for the
electrochemical tests are given as follows

S . No Corrosive Environment Temperature (in C)

1 Molten Na2SO4 900
2 Molten NaCl 900
3 Molten(95% Na2SO4+ 5% NaCl) 900
4 Molten(90%Na2SO4+ 10% NaCl) 900
5 Molten (95% Na2SO4+ 5% V2O5) 900
6 Molten (90% Na2SO4+5% NaCl+5% V2O5) 900
7 Molten V2O5 700
 Materials and Methods
The composition of the selected superalloy for the present investigation is as follows :

GTM-SU-718 SUPERNI 276

GTM-SU-718
Materials Weight Percent Materials Weight Percent
E.W = 27.2915
Nickel 50 Nickel 57 eq = 8.0228 g/cm3
Chromium 20 Chromium 15.50
Cobalt 0.05 Cobalt 2.50 Superni 276
Niobium 3.01 Molybdenum 16 E.W = 24.734
Aluminium 0.54 eq= 8.801 g/cm3
Tungsten 4
Tantalum 1.3 E.W Equivalent weight
Iron 5.50
eq = equivalent density
Titanium 2.5 Silicon 0.08

Iron 19.0 Manganese 1 =

Molybdenum 3.1
Carbon 0.01 = { }
Magnesium 0.2
Phosphorus 0.025 xi percent composition of the
Silicon 0.3 constituents, Vi valency, Ai- atomic
Sulphur 0.01
mass, i- density
Vanadium 0.35
 Electrochemical tests
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

EIS is an important tool to measure the corrosion

resistance of a system.
For the present study, two electrode assembly was
used.
The reference electrode used is platinum wire.
The immersion period was 60 mins and
temperature used was 900C and 700C (for V2O5
only)

Polarisation studies

Three electrode electrochemical cell was used for

polarisation studies
Reference and counter electrode used were
platinum wires(95% purity) of same dimensions Fig three electrode electrochemical cell for hot corrosion
as shown in figure
 Experimental procedure
GTM-SU-718 SUPERNI 276

Specimen of dimension 2*1*0.5 cm were made Specimen of dimension of 2*1*0.2cm

using electro discharge machining with a speed
of 0.1cm/min
To suspend the specimen into the crucible, a
hole of 4 mm was drilled to connect lead wires
to the specimen
were made using shear cutting machine
with 0.2 cm tolerance
Specimens were grinded to the required
dimension for the tests.

Specimen was grinded using 800 and 1200 grade SiC emery papers and cleaned using ethanol and
distilled water before the tests.
Sample is joined with the lead wires (Nichrome 80/20 wires) with 1 cm2 area dipped in the molten salts
and muffle furnace is used to create hot corrosion environment.
Platinum wires is attached to Nichrome wires and was taken outside the furnace. Alumina beeds is used
to insulate the lead wires to avoid cross connection
For impedance studies immersion period of 60 mins and the results were determined
For polarization tests, the sample was immersed for 60 mins then the tests were carried out.
Results and discussions for
different environment

Z (imaginary) vs Z (real) Nyquist plot

Mod Z vs frequency plot
Phase angle vs Frequency Bode Phase angle plot
Tafel Extrapolation Curve
GTM-SU-718 : Molten Na2SO4
 GTM-SU-718:Molten Na2SO4

SEM image of polished SEM image of corroded

GTM-SU-718 sample
Superni 276 : Molten Na2SO4
Superni 276 : Molten Na2SO4
GTM-SU-718 Molten NaCl
GTM-SU-718 Molten NaCl
Superni 276 Molten NaCl
Superni 276 Molten NaCl
GTM-SU-718 Molten V2O5
GTM-SU-718 Molten V2O5
Superni 276 - Molten V2O5
Superni 276 - Molten V2O5
GTM-SU-718 Molten 95 % Na2SO4 and 5% NaCl
GTM-SU-718 Molten 95 % Na2SO4 and 5% NaCl
Superni 276 - Molten 95 % Na2SO4 and 5% NaCl
Superni 276 - Molten 95 % Na2SO4 and 5% NaCl
GTM-SU-718 - 90 % Na2SO4 and 10% NaCl
GTM-SU-718 - 90 % Na2SO4 and 10% NaCl
Superni 276 - 90 % Na2SO4 and 10% NaCl
Superni 276 - 90 % Na2SO4 and 10% NaCl
GTM-SU-718 - 95 % Na2SO4 and 5% V2O5
GTM-SU-718 - 95 % Na2SO4 and 5% V2O5
Superni 276 - 95 % Na2SO4 and 5% V2O5
Superni 276 - 95 % Na2SO4 and 5% V2O5
GTM-SU-718 - 90 % Na2SO4, 5% V2O5 and 5% NaCl
GTM-SU-718 - 90 % Na2SO4, 5% V2O5 and 5% NaCl
Superni 276 - 90 % Na2SO4, 5% V2O5 and 5% NaCl
Superni 276 - 90 % Na2SO4, 5% V2O5 and 5% NaCl
 Conclusion-Comparison of electrochemical data
Impedance data contains solution resistance, constant phase
element, charge transfer resistance and warburg coefficient.
As the extent of hot corrosion depends upon time constant ( * =
Rct*Cdl) , the values of double layer capacitance is not present in all
the fitted randle cell. So the values of Rct alone is used for time
constant.
 Comparison of data for the alloy GTM-SU-718
Corrosive Rct ( cm2)using Rct ( cm2)using Corrosion rate
Environment same material as platinum wire as (mpy)
reference electrode reference electrode
Molten Na2SO4 0.6926 0.6926 4.8813

Molten NaCl 27.57 28.557 0.025037

Molten(95% Na2SO4+ 14.34 16.918 0.027324

5% NaCl)
Molten(90%Na2SO4+ 24.15 30.46 0.02494
10% NaCl)
Molten (95% Na2SO4+ 7.573 5.383 0.31633
5% V2O5)
Molten (90% 7.168 24.88 0.027156
Na2SO4+5% NaCl+5%
V2O5)
Molten V2O5 (not 3.045 3.045 0.3471
accurate)
Comparison of data for the alloy SUPERNI 276
Corrosive Environment Rct ( cm2) Corrosion rate (mpy)
Molten Na2SO4 1.416 441.62
Molten NaCl 50.25 131.989
Molten(95% Na2SO4+ 5% 15.844 221.27
NaCl)

Molten(90%Na2SO4+ 10% 0.1634 16.34 232.01

NaCl)

Molten (95% Na2SO4+ 5% 38.11 186.77

V2O5)

Molten (90% Na2SO4+5% 27.48 246.62

NaCl+5% V2O5)

Molten V2O5 (not accurate) 19.82 501.87

 Conclusion
For GTM-SU-718 and superni 276, the order of aggressiveness is
Na2SO4 >V2O5 >NaCl.
Aggressiveness for the binary systems is in the order (95% Na2SO4+
5% V2O5) > (95% Na2SO4+ 5% NaCl) > (90%Na2SO4 + 10% NaCl)
GTM-SU-718 with 20% Cr have higher corrosive resistance than
superni 276 with 15.5 % Cr
Presence of V2O5 may induce errors during electrochemical methods
because it is not an ionic conductor.
Thank You