Erosion-corrosion of Q235 and 5Cr1/2Mo steels in oil with naphthenic acid and/or sulfur compound at high temperature

The erosion‐corrosion behaviors of Q235 steel and 5Cr1/2Mo steel in oil with naphthenic acid and/or sulfur compound at high temperature were studied in a hot oil loop simulating oil refining environments. The effects of impinging flow rate, incidence angle, and total acid number (TAN), and sulfur content on erosion‐corrosion behavior were assessed. The eroded surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and XPS. The results showed that both corrosion resistance and hardness of steels play an important role in combating erosion‐corrosion. Sulfide films formed on the surface were significant in understanding the erosion‐corrosion behavior when both naphthenic acid and sulfur compound were present. Erosion‐corrosion regimes were determined on the basis of mechanism analysis of the damage process.