Corrosion behaviors of stainless steels and nickel-base alloys were investigated in H2O2-containing SCW environments. The effects of temperature, exposure time and H2O2 concentration were examined. The mass gain and the morphologies, microstructures, compositions and structures of the oxide scales were investigated using weight measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Duplex layers of the oxide scales were observed for both the stainless steel and nickel-base alloy after exposure in SCWO environments, consisting of an outer layer of large-grain oxides and an inner layer of fine-grain oxides. The duplex-layer structure was identified to be Ni(OH)2/NiO/NiCr2O4/Cr2O3/alloy
matrix from outer to inner layer for the nickel-base alloy, and to be FeOOH/(Fe,Cr)2O3/
(Fe,Cr)3O4/Cr2O3/Ni-rich layer/steel matrix for the stainless steel. A nickel enrichment was observed at the oxide/matrix interface for the stainless steel, especially at higher temperatures. The growth mechanisms of the oxide scales on the stainless steel and nickel-base alloy are discussed.
Keywords: Supercritical water oxidation, stainless steels, nickel-base alloys, oxide scales