Surface treatments usually are used to modify the appearance and properties of stainless steel surfaces. Simultaneously, the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel surface being related intrinsically to the spontaneous formation of a passive layer also will be affected. In this respect, the influence of different surface treatments on the corrosion resistance of Type 304 (UNS S30400) stainless steel to pitting corrosion has been evaluated by means of potentiostatic electrochemical noise measurements and surface characterization. Typical industrial treatments including mechanical grinding, glass blasting, and pickling were taken into account. Additionally, special consideration was put on the effect of aging conditions of the passive layer after surface treatments, in particular on the relative humidity. Benefits and limitations of the different applied surface treatments concerning protectiveness of the stainless steel surface were determined and discussed.
In order to provide basic information on corrosion resistance to the designers and users of geothermal plants different metallic materials including duplex and austenitic stainless steels as well as a nickel alloy have been evaluated in artificial geothermal fluids simulating the conditions in some locations with geothermal potential in Germany as well as two sites in Indonesia. By electrochemical and long-term exposure tests at 100 °C and 150 °C the suitability of low alloyed steel UNS G41300, stainless steels UNS S31603 UNS S31803, UNS S32760, super austenitic steel UNS N08031 and nickel based alloy UNS N06059 was investigated in these geothermal fluids, using critical potentials and corrosion rates. In high-saline environments the crevice corrosion turned out to be the determining mechanism. The nickel based alloy shows excellent corrosion resistance against pitting corrosion. Excluding its high cost, it is very good to be used in the construction of geothermal facilities having highly saline brines. Stainless and duplex steels exhibit a limited corrosion resistance concerning pitting and crevice corrosion. Therefore they are not suitable for highly saline brines. The super austenite UNS N08031 showed a temperature depending behavior. In non-saline environments the low-alloyed steel UNS G41300 (beside of the higher alloyed materials) could be employed as a constructional material for the geothermal power plant, as long as a sufficient wall thickness of the material is considered.
In the last years, geothermal power has become a reliable and significant energy source. Because service conditions in geothermal facilities from deeply located aquifers are usually critical in terms of corrosion, materials selection is a very important issue. Preliminary evaluation of the material's suitability represents therefore a valuable strategy to ensure a secure and reliable operation of the facilities. In geothermal applications, the use of high-alloyed materials such as superaustenitic stainless steels, duplex stainless steels, and nickel-based alloys has been considered as a good alternative because of their remarkable corrosion resistance and appropriate mechanical properties. Nevertheless, the corrosion behavior of those metallic materials in geothermal fluids at service conditions has not been determined in many cases. In this work, laboratory tests including electrochemical investigations and exposure tests at 100 degrees C and 150 degrees C (1,500 kPa) showed the limits of suitability concerning localized corrosion of three different, corrosion-resistant alloys in the highly saline fluid of the North German Basin.