Caustic Embrittlement.

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Written by V R
Sunday, 09 January 2011 06:19 -
Caustic embrittlement is a type of corrosion produced by the joint action of stess and caustic
alkalinity.The source of alkalinity in the boiler is due to

- Presence of residual Na2CO3 in water.This undergo hydrolysis at high temperature and
pressure in boilers to give NaOH.
- Presence of NaHCO3 in boiler water.

The sodium hydroxide containing water,when passed through small cracks in the stressed
areas get concentrated and corrodes the area by forming sodium ferrate and get
disintegrated.Caustic cracking is generally intercrystalline,largely takes place in stressed areas
and irregularly formed.

The iron in contact with dilute sodium hydroxide near by the pores present in the bends and
joints becomes the anodic part and iron in contact with concentrated sodium hydroxide in the
pores become the cathodic part.A number of minute electrochemical cells are formed
surrounding each pores.So intense corrosion takes place.

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