Corrosion of Metals by Liquid Vanadium Pentoxide and the Sodium Vanadates

The rates of liquid vanadate corrosion of iron, nickel and several alloys containing iron, nickel, and chromium have been examined by the use of both static and dynamic accelerated corrosion tests. The dynamic corrosion test involved the rotation of metal disks in the vanadate melts. Corrosion products on the surface of the corroded specimens and in the vanadate melts were examined and identified. The rates of corrosion were found to depend on temperature, oxygen partial pressure, the composition, amount and turbulence of the liquid vanadates, the composition of the metals or alloys in contact with the liquid vanadates, and the duration of the corrosion tests. A mechanism for metal corrosion in the presence of liquid vanadates is proposed.