The subject of this study is related to the performance of austenitic steels coils and tubes. in a range of temperatures between 425 to 870°C for the transport of reducing gases, in an installation involving the direct reduction of iron-ore by reforrling natural gas. Evidence is presented that metal dusting is not the only unique high temperature corrosion mechanism that caused catastrophic failures of austenitic 304 (UNS S30400) coils andHK-40 (UNS J94204) tubes. Sensitization as well as stress corrosion cracking occurred in 304 stainless steel coils, and metal dusting occurred in tubes of HK- 40, a high resistance alloy. The role of a continuous injection of H2S to the process is suggested to avoid the high temperature metal dusting corrosion mechanism found in these kind of installations.
Keywords: High temperature corrosion; metal dusting; austenitic steels, sensitization.