Scaling and electrochemical corrosion behavior of 304 stainless steel pipes in a simulated geothermal water environment

Based on the universal problem of steel pipes' corrosion and scaling in the transportation of geothermal water, the environmental conditions of geothermal water in the Chinese central plains was simulated to study the scaling and electrochemical corrosion behavior of 304 stainless steel pipes. The experiments results indicated that the scaling process of 304 stainless steel pipes in the simulated geothermal water was divided into two states, one was the nucleus-forming state, and the other was the nucleus growth state. The reducing rate of scaling ions in the nucleus-forming state was more than that in the nucleus growth state. The microcosmic appearance of scaling was straw-like abnormity. In addition, the change in temperature of geothermal water could accelerate 304 stainless steel's sensitivity of pitting corrosion, and the protective performance of 304 stainless steel's passive film decreased as the temperature of geothermal water increasing.