Na2SO4 Induced Hot Corrosion of Aluminized Low Carbon Steel at 700 °C

The oxidation kinetics of hot-dip aluminized AISI 1020 steel with Na2SO4 deposit was investigated at 700 °C for 49 h in static air. The scale morphologies were observed by means of metallograpy, scanning electron miscroscopy (SEM), electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray analyses. The accelerated oxidation of aluminized steel was attributed to the formation of aluminum-sulphides which allowed the rapid diffusion of Fe ions in the aluminide layer to the formation of iron oxide. In addition, the Al-sulphides precipitations in the alumina scale causes the Al-depletion such that Al2O3 layer fails to form a protective layer. Consequently, the kinetics rate of aluminized was increased.