Investigations on the Corrosion-Enhanced Erosion Behavior of Carbon Steel AISI 1020

In this study, corrosion-enhanced erosion behavior of AISI 1020 carbon steel was examined. The specimens were subjected to immersion test in ferric chloride solution (100 g FeCl3 in 900 ml of distilled water), and subsequently followed by solid particle erosion experiments. In order to simulate the corrosion behavior and subsequent erosion, different immersion times were selected, i.e. 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h and 60 h. After the immersion tests, corrosion rates were calculated for each time based on weight loss measurements. Later the corroded specimens were subjected to solid particle erosion (SPE) investigations. Angular alumina with 50 μm particle size was used as an erodent in SPE experiments. Significant increase in erosion rates of corroded carbon steel 1020 samples was observed which is attributed to hard and brittle corrosion products that are formed on the surface after corrosion. Erosion rate for 24 h immersed specimens was the highest compared to all other specimens. This was attributed to the maximum hardness and surface roughness of the 24 h immersed specimens. Detailed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations were carried out on as received, corroded and eroded specimens, in order to evaluate the material degradation behavior in corrosion enhanced erosion process. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) was also carried out on corroded specimens to identify the scales formed during immersion experiments.