High-temperature corrosion cast iron

Carbon disulfide is normally stored and handled in mild steel equipment. Tanks and pipes are usually made from steel. Valves are typically cast-steel bodies with chrome steel trim. Lead is sometimes used, particularly for pressure reUef disks. Copper and copper alloys are attacked by carbon disulfide and must be avoided. Carbon disulfide Hquid and vapor become very corrosive to iron and steel at temperatures above about 250°C. High chromium stainless steels, glass, and ceramics maybe suitable at elevated temperatures. 

The scope of the term stainless steel has not been precisely defined, but for general purposes it may be considered to include alloys whose main constituent is iron but which also contain not less than 10% Cr. As with low-alloy steels, a distinction between low or medium carbon grades and high carbon grades must also be drawn, the latter being more in the nature of alloy cast irons. These are used mainly for oxidation resistance at high temperatures and for applications where abrasion resistance allied to a certain amount of corrosion resistance is required, and will not be considered in this section. 

When cast iron is exposed to high temperatures under oxidising conditions, oxidation of the metal results, with the formation of a surface scale. In addition, the dimensions of the component become distorted. Although such dimensional changes can occur also in inert atmospheres or in vacuum, the evidence available suggests that this growth is frequently associated with oxidation, and accordingly it is appropriate to consider it as an aspect of the corrosion of the iron. 

The bath is normally at a temperature in the range 620-710°C, depending on whether the coating material is an aluminium-silicon alloy (for use in high-temperature conditions) or pure aluminium (for corrosion prevention). It is heated by inductors, by resistance heaters or by an external flame. The pot will usually be refractory lined unless cast-iron pots are needed to ensure adequate heat transfer from an external flame. As molten aluminium is extremely aggressive towards ferrous metals, replacement of cast-iron pots is fairly frequent. Refractory-lined pots obviously do not have this drawback, although the bath hardware, in particular the sinker roll and support mechanism, will still be attacked and need replacement at intervals. 

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