Review—Factors Influencing Sulfur Induced Corrosion on the Secondary Side in Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs)

Abstract

© The Author(s) 2019. The work presented in this review paper is part of a project to investigate corrosion degradation of steam generator (SG) tubing and tube support materials by sulfur compounds at reduced or intermediate oxidation levels (designated here as Sx). The stability of these Sx species in aqueous solutions is discussed, and the electrochemical and chemical interactions between Sx and metallic surfaces and the subsequent impact of these interactions on metal corrosion are reviewed. Factors influencing Sx-induced uniform corrosion, passivity breakdown and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) considered here include: pH, electrode potential, temperature, Sx species, alloy compositions and other impurity ions like Cl-.