Wednesday, 2 May 2018

Effect of heat treatments on corrosion resistance of Inconel 718



Inconel 718 has effective resistance to carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and acetic acid containing environments. Corrosion rates of below 1 mil per year occurred to high temperatures. Only with acid, oxygen or elemental sulfur corrodes Inconel 718. So, the pitting corrosion resistance is counted as the most vigorous environment occurred in the industry. There are several alloys considered to be corrosion resistant in the most production conditions. Inconel 718 has pitting corrosion resistance similar to duplex stainless steels. Alloys like SS 304 are slightly used due to their corrosion resistance. Inconel 719 applications are usually not limited to corrosion resistance.

The general corrosion resistance and pitting corrosionresistance of Inconel 718 are influenced by heat processing. The effect of aging temperature on the pitting corrosion resistance in the yellow death solution. Increase in pitting temperature shows enhanced corrosion resistance. The reproducibility of this test is about 5 C. Heat treatments to 1350oF do not create a detrimental effect on the pitting temperature in the yellow death solution. Although, heat processing at 1450oF affects the pitting corrosion resistance. The loss in pitting resistance can be added to the precipitation of carbides and to segregation of alloying elements during precipitation hardening treatments. It is found that higher annealing temperatures are detrimental to pitting corrosion resistance of Inconel 718. Although, except in the extreme cases, pitting corrosion resistance is not a limiting characteristic, although in the 1450oF heat processing conditions evaluated. Both localized corrosion and generalized corrosion resistance reduce with increase in temperature of aging treatments.

Inconel 718 offers adequate resistance to corrosion in acidizing conditions. Relative corrosion rates of alloys in 10% boiling hydrochloric acid is evaluated. This acid is unpreventable and causes highest corrosion rates anticipated for short-term exposures. Inconel 718 corrodes at 4 mils per day, in fact in the uninhibited acid. The corrosion resistance is comparable to alloys 825 that are a likely combination with Inconel 718 in the various severe completions. From a practical perspective, the corrosion resistance in oil field acidizing environments is sufficient, particularly as these conditions will comprise of corrosion preventors to further decrease the corrosion rates. The influence of heat processing on corrosion resistance of alloy 718 in hydrochloric acid is not evaluated. The effects of H2S on acidizing have also not been tested.

Inconel 718 is sensitive to hydrogen embrittlement particularly in the high strength heat processed conditions. Although various studies of hydrogen embrittlement have been done with high strength materials. So, the results from study with these high strength materials for the aerospace industry may not be relevant in describing the chance of failure in oil field applications. Although the effects of heat processing or other environmental factors may be relevant to oil industry applications. The effect of heat processing on the hydrogen embrittlement resistance in the high pressure hydrogen at room temperature is evaluated. It is found that high temperature aging processing about 1400oF enhance the resistance to hydrogen embrittlement of Inconel 718.

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