Local corrosion of austenitic steels and alloys for heat exchanger tubes of nuclear power stations steam generators

Elaboration of modern domestic structural materials with increased corrosion resistance in contact with advanced heatcarriers of future reactor plants is an important problem at development of innovation projects of nuclear power engineering. Heatexchanging tubes are the critical components, which influence on the safety and reliability of steam generators operation. Corrosion properties of non-stabilized nitrogen-containing corrosion resistant steels of austenite class after cold deformation, thermal treatment and long-term thermal aging studied. It was shown, that silicon introducing into chrome-nickel steel, alloyed by nitrogen and molybdenum, results in increasing of its resistance against local kinds of corrosion and equated it on resistance against intercrystallite and pitting corrosion with particularly low-carbon steels and alloys. But the experimental 03Х18Н13С2АМ2ВФБР-Ш low carbon micro-alloyed steel, proposed for operation at a heat-carrier temperature of 450–500 о С, in the first version had a tendency to a decrease of resistance against local corrosion and impact resistance after long-term thermal aging at temperatures of 360 о С and higher. At present specifying of technological parameters of production and balanced alloying element content takes place, which prevents heat exchanging tubes properties degradation. Steel 03Х17Н13С2АМ2 which has higher resistance against local corrosion and strength comparing with 316LN and 08Х18Н10Т grades, can be taken as a candidate material for production of heat-exchanging tubes of steam generators of nuclear power stations having power reactors of water-water type. The new 03Х17Н9АС2 steel, resistant against inter-crystallite corrosion in high-oxidizing media, was proposed for tests of its operation under conditions of contact with lead heat-carriers instead of 10Х15Н9С3Б1-Ш (ЭП 302-Ш) steel.