Corrosion of carbon steel and alloys in concentrated ammonium chloride solutions

Corrosion resistance and the behavior of carbon steel and alloys in high concentration ammonium chloride (NH ₄Cl) solutions were investigated. This study was conducted to better understand material performance in severe NH ₄Cl corrosive environments in refineries. Immersion tests were performed under boiling 20 wt% and 40 wt% NH ₄Cl solutions. Sixteen materials commonly used in refineries and two new alloys were examined, including carbon steel; aluminized carbon steel; aluminum brass; Types 405, 410, 304L, 316L, and 321 stainless steels (UNS S40500, S41000, S30403, S31603, and S32100); 300-series stainless steel with 6% Mo; two types of super duplex stainless steels; Alloys 800, 625, and C-276 (UNS N08800, N06625, and N10276); Grade 2 and Grade 19 titanium (UNS R50400 and R53530); Alloy A (equivalent to a modified Type 317L [UNS S31703] stainless steel); and a modified Alloy 825 (UNS N06845). Significant corrosion was observed in carbon steel in both solutions. The corrosion rates of carbon steel were as high as 25.4 mm/y and 60.4 mm/y in 20 wt% and 40 wt% NH ₄Cl solutions, respectively. However, neither general corrosion nor pitting was observed on titanium alloys and alloys with a pitting resistant equivalent number (PREN) of 40 and higher. The maximum pit depth had a close relationship with the PREN. In addition, an electrochemical study was used to investigate the corrosion behavior of carbon steel. The effects of the temperature and NH ₄Cl concentration were determined from polarization curves and the corrosion potential.