Characteristics and Mechanisms of Elemental Sulfur Induced Corrosion of Sulfur-resistant Steels in Wet Flow CO2 Environment

doi:10.11902/1005.4537.2021.162

Journal of Chinese Society for Corrosion and protection

2022, Vol. 42

Issue (3): 369-377 DOI: 10.11902/1005.4537.2021.162

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Characteristics and Mechanisms of Elemental Sulfur Induced Corrosion of Sulfur-resistant Steels in Wet Flow CO₂ Environment

LIU Yichao¹, ZHONG Xiankang¹^,²(

), HU Junying¹

^1.School of Oil and Natural Gas Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
^2.State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Chengdu 610500, China

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Abstract

The characteristics and mechanisms of elemental sulfur induced corrosion of P110SS sulfur-resistant steel in wet flow carbon dioxide atmosphere of various flux and relative humidity at different temperatures were investigated by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in terms of the composition and morphology of the corrosion product and the substrate steel. The results show that the elemental sulfur does not corrode P110SS at 60 ℃ in the wet flow CO₂ with 30% relative humidity, however when the relative humidity reaches to 60% or higher, the elemental sulfur may participate in the cathodic reaction to generate S^2-, which in turn combines with Fe²⁺ to produce FeS. As the temperature reaches to 80 ℃, the elemental sulfur becomes more active and may react with the steel to form FeS even in the flow CO₂ with 30% relative humidity. When the relative humidity reaches to 60% or higher at 80 ℃, the elemental sulfur starts to hydrolyze, generating H₂SO₄ and H₂S, which aggravates the corrosion of the steel. Furthermore, when the CO₂ flux with high humidity at high temperature, FeS will also catalyze the hydrolysis of the elemental sulfur to form more SO₄^2- and S^2-. Finally, the thickness of the corrosion product increases with the increasing humidity and the density of the corrosion product decreases with the increasing temperature. Therefore, the findings of this study can provide a reference for the prevention and control of the elemental sulfur corrosion of sulfur-resistant steels.

Key words: humid environment elemental sulfur corrosion P110SS sulfur-resistant steel corrosion characteristics corrosion mechanisms

Received: 13 July 2021

ZTFLH:

TG172

Fund: National Natural Science Foundation of China(52171080);Scientific and Technological Innovation Team for the Safety of Petroleum Tubular Goods in Southwest Petroleum University(2018CXTD01)

Corresponding Authors: ZHONG Xiankang E-mail: zhongxk@yeah.net

About author: ZHONG Xiankang, E-mail: zhongxk@yeah.net

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LIU Yichao, ZHONG Xiankang, HU Junying. Characteristics and Mechanisms of Elemental Sulfur Induced Corrosion of Sulfur-resistant Steels in Wet Flow CO₂ Environment. Journal of Chinese Society for Corrosion and protection, 2022, 42(3): 369-377.

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https://www.jcscp.org/EN/10.11902/1005.4537.2021.162 OR https://www.jcscp.org/EN/Y2022/V42/I3/369

Fig.1 Metallographic structure of P110SS steel

Fig.2 Schematic diagrams of the experimental setup

Table 1 Relative humidity of the reaction containers

Fig.3 XPS spectra of S 2p3/2 (a), Fe 2p3/2 (b) and Mo 3d3/2 (c) of different relative humidity at 60 ℃

Table 2 XPS peak positions and peak areas for the components of corrosion products under different conditions

Fig.4 XPS spectra of S 2p3/2 (a), Fe 2p3/2 (b) and Mo 3d3/2 and (c) of different relative humidity at 80 ℃

Fig.5 SEM images of micro-morphologies of corrosion product under 30%RH/60 ℃ (a), 60%RH/60 ℃ (b), 90%RH/60 ℃ (c), 30%RH/80 ℃ (d), 60%RH/80 ℃ (e) and 90%RH/80 ℃ (f)

Fig.6 SEM images of cross-sectional views of corrosion product under 30%RH/60 ℃ (a), 60%RH/60 ℃ (b), 90%RH/60 ℃ (c), 30%RH/80 ℃ (d), 60%RH/80 ℃ (e) and 90%RH/80 ℃ (f)

Fig.7 SEM images of micro-morphologies of P110SS steel surface under 30%RH/60 ℃ (a), 60%RH/60 ℃ (b), 90%RH/60 ℃ (c), 30%RH/80 ℃ (d), 60%RH/80 ℃ (e) and 90%RH/80 ℃ (f)

Fig.8 SEM images of micro-morphologies of P110SS steel surface without elemental sulfur under 30%RH/60 ℃

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