Corrosion behavior of Al-surface-treated steels in liquid Pb–Bi in a pot

Corrosion tests were performed in oxygen-saturated liquid Pb–Bi at 450 °C and 550 °C in a pot for 3000 h for Al-surface-treated steels containing various levels of Cr contents. The Al surface treatments were achieved using a gas diffusion method and a melt dipping method. Al2O3, FeAl2 and AlCr2 produced by the gas diffusion method exhibited corrosion resistance to liquid Pb–Bi, while the surface layer produced by the melt dipping method suffered a severe corrosion attack. Fe4Al13 and Fe2Al5 produced by the melt dipping method disappeared during the corrosion test at 550 °C and only FeAl remained.