The effect of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) additions on the catalytic behavior of noble metal alloyed 304 stainless steel (SS) in 288°C water under stoichiometric excess hydrogen was studied. It was observed that an increase in the Zn or Cu content of the water increased the electrochemical corrosion potential (ECP) of noble metal alloyed 304 SS by ≈30 to 50 mV and decreased the recombination efficiency of oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2) by ≈10%. The change in the ECP and recombination rate was correlated with incorporation of zinc and copper in the oxide film, which, by covering catalytic sites, would alter the redox reaction rate.

Subject
Scanning electron microscopy, Water, Intergranular stress corrosion cracking, Boiling water reactors, Metal surfaces, Noble metals, Oxide films, Copper alloys, Oxide surfaces, Zinc oxide, Test environments, Protection potential, Corrosion potential
Keywords:
noble metal, stainless steel, zinc, copper, BWR, electrochemical corrosion potential, oxygen, hydrogen, hydrogen peroxide, high temperature water
© 1997 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1997
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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