Abstract
It has already been recognized by many researchers that lead oxides , the combustion products of tetraethyl lead, cause high temperature catastrophic corrosion of engine exhaust valves and ignition plugs. But most of the studies on them relate to the reactions in the molten state of PbO.
The present investigation was carried out on the effects of heating atmosphere and alloying elements on the high temperature corrosion of Fe and its binary alloys by solid PbO in the temperature range 700°∼850°C i.e. below the melting point of PbO.
The results of the experiments are summarized as follows:
(1) The catastrophic corrosion of Fe and Fe alloys caused by PbO powder was especially prominent at temperature above 770°C in both air (an oxidizing atmosphere) and argon gas (a reduced oxygen atmosphere).
(2) The effect of some alloying elements on the corrosion resistance of Fe was determined; the alloying elements improving the corrosion resistance were Cr and Ni, and those decreasing especially in a reduced oxygen atmosphere were Al and Si.
