Abstract
An investigation was made of the corrosion effects of a sludge accumulation on various pressurized water nuclear power plant tubing alloys. The tests were performed in small, vertical heat exchangers in which the heat transfer tubes were made of the test alloys and a thick layer of sludge was placed on the tube sheet. Tests were run for various lengths of time up to 12 months in order to gain corrosion rate information. Each unit was thoroughly examined by destructive metallographic methods.
Inconel was the material most resistant to the test environment with little corrosion effect in evidence. Type 347 stainless steel was next with surface etching and some random pitting up to 2½ mils deep. Croloy 16-1 was superior to Monel and carbon steel and rated below Type 347 stainless because it suffered more general pitting up to 2½ mils deep. Monel was still more severely corroded with preferential attack up to 11 mils deep occurring at crevice opening. Carbon steel suffered the deepest attack on all surfaces, which were severely roughened. 4.6.2
