Review of Some Data on Corrosion of Stainless Steel and Higher Alloys in Pulp Mill Equipment

Allowable corrosion rates for equipment with low corrosion tolerance are discussed. Corrosion case histories in the various pulping processes are presented. Sulfite pulping solutions are most frequently handled in 316 material. Stainless 316 is used because of good resistance to local attack under scale or deposits. In alkaline pulping, soda process digesters are usually made of carbon steel with heater tubing of either carbon steel or Type 316 alloy. Kraft digesters are commonly carbon steel, though many units are partially to wholly lined with alloy materials. Type 316 most frequently. Stainless 316 is used for heater piping, strong black liquor piping and green liquor piping. Carbon steel is most frequently used for weak black liquor. Corrosion in groundwood pulping varies greatly depending on wood being ground, water supply and treating chemicals added. Stainless 304 and 316 alloys are used frequently, both to resist corrosion and reduce contamination. Chlorine and hypochlorite bleaching usually pose severe corrosion problems. Hastelloy C alloy is most commonly used for high strength solutions. In more dilute solutions the molybdenum-bearing stainless steels are satisfactory.. Chlorine dioxide is even more corrosive to metals than hypochlorite, and some operators have replaced Hastelloy C with titanium. 8.5.3