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Iron oxides
Magnetite (Fe3O4)
A smooth black tenacious , dense magnetite layer normally grows on boiler water side
surfaces.taken to indicate good corrosion protection as it forms in low oxygen levels and
is susceptible to acidic attack
Heamatite (Fe2O3)
is favoured at low temperatures and high oxygen levels can be red and is a binding agent
and tends to hold over materials in deposition. This is an indication of active corrosion
occuring within the boiler/feed system
Other metals
Copper and Copper oxide is deposited by direct exchange with iron or by reduction of
copper oxide by hydrogen evolved during corrosion . Reddish stains of copper are
common at or near areas of caustic corrosion. Copper Oxide appears as a black depositi.
It is considered very serious corrosion risk because of the initiation of galvanic corrosion
mechanisms.
Galvanic corrosion associated with copper deposition is very rare in a well passivated
boiler. Zinc and nickel are very often found near copper deposition , nickel being a
particularly tenacious binder
Rapid loss of boiler metals can occur. Copper can appear in various forms as a deposit in
the boiler. As a copper coloured metallic deposit, usually in a corrosion pit, as a bright
red/orange tubercules on the boiler metal surface or as a brown tear drop shaped
formation.
Copper is generally an indicator of corrosion (or possible wear) occuring in the feed
pump whether in the condensate lines or in the parts of a feed pump. A possoble cause of
this is the excessive treatement of hydrazine which decompose to ammonia carrying over
with the steam to attack suc areas as the air ejectors on condensers.
SALTS
Water soluble deposits can only be retained if local concentration mechanism is severe.
Prescence of NaOH , NaPO3 Na2SO3 should be considered proof of vapouration to
dryness.
Calcium and magnessium salts exhibit inverse solubility. As the water temperature rises
their solubility reduces, at a temperature of 70'C and above they come out of solution and
begin to deposit. Feed water must be condition to remove the hardness salts before the
water enters the boiler. The purity of the water is related to the steam conditions required
of the boiler.
Hydrolyzable salts such as MgCl can concentrate in porous deposits and hydrolyze to
hydrochloric acid
Calcium Carbonate
Cacium Carbonate is formed by the thermal decomposition of Calcium BiCarbonate and
apperas as a pale cream to yellow scale
Magnessium Silicate
Tor form requires sufficient amounts of magnessium and silicate ions coupled with a
deficiency in OH- alkalinity
H2SiO3 = H+ + HSiO3-
Thus this rough tan scale can be prevented by the maintenace of alkalinity levels
o Soluble in water
o at more than 90oC breaks down to form MgCO3 and CO2 and then
Mg(OH)2 and CO2
o Forms a soft scale
o Soluble <225000ppm
o forms a soft encrustation
o Free irons promote galvanic action
Other deposits-
Amorphous Silicon dioxide (SiO2) - trace
o at high tempos and pressures (>40bar) silica can distill from the bioler as
Silicic acid and can sublime and pass over into the steam system as a gas.
Here it glazes surfaces with a smooth layer, which due to thermal
expansion crack and roughen the surface. Troublesome on HP blading.
Can be removed only by washing with Hydroflouric acid.
SCALE FORMATION
The roughness of the heated surface has a direct relationship to the deposit of scale. Each
peak acts as a 'seed' for the scale to bind to.
Nucleate Boiling
Scale built up as a series of rings forming multi layers of different combinations. Much
increased by corrosion products or prescience of oil, even in very small quantities.
Oil also increases scale insulatory properties.
Departure form nucleate boiling (DNB) Under normal conditions steam bubbles are
formed in discrete parts. Boiler water solids develop near the surface . However on
departure of the bubble rinsing water flows in and redissolves the soluble solids
However at increased rates the rate of bubble formation may exceed the flow of rinsing
water , and at higher still rate, a stable film may occur with corrosion concentrations at
the edge of this blanket.