Hot Corrosion Behaviour of Detonation Gun Sprayed Stellite-6 and Stellite-21 Coating on Boiler Steel SAE 431 at 900°C

Abstract

Hot corrosion is the serious problem in gas turbines, superheaters, and economizers of coal-fired boilers. It occurs due to the usage of wide range of fuels such as coal, oil, and so on at the elevated temperatures. Protective coatings on boiler steels are used under such environments. In the present investigation, Stellite-6 and Stellite-21 coatings have been deposited on boiler steel SAE 431 by detonation gun method. The hot corrosion performance of Stellite-6 and Stellite-21 coated as well as uncoated SAE 431 steel has been evaluated in aggressive environment of Na2SO4-82%Fe2(SO4)3 under cyclic conditions at an elevated temperature of 900°C for total duration of 50 cycles. Thermogravimetric technique was used to approximate the kinetics of hot corrosion. Stellite-6 coating imparted better hot corrosion resistance than Stellite-21 coating in the given environment. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the surface of hot corrosion products.