High Temperature Corrosion of a Nickel-based Superalloy Underneath a Calcium Sulfate Deposit

Deposit-induced corrosion at high temperatures is an issue of concern in airborne gas turbines. These deposits can destroy protective oxide scales on the surface of turbine blades and deplete critical alloying elements in the matrix. This phenomenon can lead to reduced engine performance and potentially result in component failure. The overall objective of this project is to study calcium sulfate deposit-induced corrosion nickel-based alloys. This presentation will compare experimental results from two types of testing protocols – isothermal and bi-thermal. The morphology of the corroded alloys will be compared and discussed. The relevance of the latter to field failures will be pointed out.