Corrosion of Gold-Palladium, Nickel and Type 347 Stainless Steel in Molten Alkali Carbonates

Abstract

Further to previously reported studies of corrosion of noble metals and refractories in molten alkali carbonates,1 similar studies were made on gold-20 percent palladium, nickel and Type 347 stainless steel at 600-700 C (1112-1292 F). Type 347 stainless steel was found highly resistant to attack, possibly due to passivation by a film of LiFeO2. Nickel was embrittled at 600-700 C with the intergranular formation of NiO. The small but finite attack of the gold-20 percent palladium was accompanied by formation of sodium palladiate.