Review of Calcium Sulfate as an Alternative Cause of Hot Corrosion

Abstract

Research into hot corrosion and its preventative measures in gas turbine engines has focused almost exclusively on sodium sulfate since the early 1950s. However, current gas turbine engines on U.S. Department of Defense aircraft are exhibiting degradation due to hot corrosion following operations in locations where sodium sulfate is not present. In light of this, questions raised by previous hot corrosion research are reviewed with regard to U.S. Department of Defense operations. Initial lab results suggest calcium sulfate as a likely alternative initiator of hot corrosion in environments, or at temperatures, where sodium-sulfate-initiated hot corrosion is not probable.