ADVANCED METALLIC COMPOSITE NIOBIUM CARBIDE CLADDING FOR CORROSION, EROSION AND WEAR PROTECTION

Fireside corrosion and erosion are a serious concern when the low alloy
ferritic steel components of energy converting systems aimed at generating
steam and electricity from the combustion of coal, biomass, municipal and
industrial wastes. An advanced metallic composite niobium carbide cladding
applied by twin wire arc spraying was developed to protect power plant
components from fireside corrosion and erosion. Cost effective feedstock
materials were strategically designed to produce niobium carbide in the final
cladding matrix. Aggressive corrosion and erosion testing were conducted on
this cladding to evaluate its corrosion and erosion performance. The results of
the corrosion testing revealed that this cladding performed 12X better than the
uncoated steel under aggressive sulfidizing environment. Relative erosion and bend testing revealed that this cladding outperformed other cermet base cladding containing carbides and borides.