The kinetics and mechanisms of corrosion of pure tantalum in three molten glasses are investigated in the 1200-1400°C temperature range by thickness loss measurements. The corrosion layers formed at the metal/glass interface, the elemental concentration profiles in the glass, and the corrosion rates are determined. Corrosion rates are reported on an Arrhenius representation for each glass. They yield to the determination of the activation energies of corrosion processes that depend on the glass composition. The limiting process is probably the diffusion of oxygen through one of the corrosion layers. The corrosion mechanisms are described in the form of successive redox reactions between the glass and the substrate. The Ta V /Ta 0 standard potential is estimated to be below Ϫ1.200 V. The formation of an intermetallic compound containing boron ͑TaB͒ as a corrosion layer is evidenced for the first time.In the course of understanding the mechanisms of metal corrosion in molten glasses, a first approach consisted of using electrochemical techniques to characterize the behavior of a few selected pure metals and superalloys in contact with molten glass. 1-7 New metals are now being tested to propose new materials and to extend vitrification technology to high temperatures ͑1200-1400°C͒.Ta is a refractory metal, the use of which in the glass industry has already been considered. 8,9 The authors compared the corrosion behavior of Ta in molten glasses at different temperatures with other materials ͑Mo, Pt-10% Rh͒ to replace commonly used electrodes made of Inconel 690. The development of Ta-based superalloys, that have been extensively studied for high-temperature applications to replace Ni-based superalloys in the aerospace domain, 10-13 would provide adequate candidate materials for the glass industry. Furthermore, new Ni-and Co-based superalloys containing a few weight percent of Ta are also being developed for high-temperature applications for the glass industry. 7,14 In these materials, Ta is present in solid solution and in carbide phases and provides good mechanical properties to the alloy. Nevertheless, these phases are quickly corroded when the alloy is immersed in molten glass.To determine whether tantalum could be a good candidate for glass technology applications, a study has been undertaken in three different glasses with simplified compositions in the 1200-1400°C temperature range. Characterization of metal pieces, corrosion products, and glass was undertaken after the immersion test to determine the material behavior in glass melt, to calculate the corrosion rates, and to characterize the corrosion processes.
MaterialsMetal plates.-Ta, 99.95% purity ͑Strem Chemicals͒, initial thickness 1050 ͑Ϯ5͒ m.Glasses.-Three different borosilicate glasses were provided by industrial partners in the form of 5 mm diam pellets. Their compositions are reported in Table I.
ExperimentalImmersion tests.-Ta is an easily oxidable metal at temperatures higher than 500°C, 15 and the oxide scale formed is not protective. The immersi...