High-Temperature and High-Pressure Corrosion Laboratories

Research conducted at CanmetMATERIALS often focuses on understanding corrosion phenomena within industrial processes. Simulating these environments in the lab requires facilities to safely handle extreme temperatures and pressures, highly corrosive chemicals and toxic materials, as well as the ability to mechanically load test samples during exposure. In order to replicate these challenging environments, CanmetMATERIALS has constructed a world-class suite of specialized laboratories.

CanmetMATERIALS operates a fleet of high-temperature, high-pressure autoclaves in order to study corrosion and cracking phenomena relevant to pipelines. Research in this area focuses on sour oil and gas pipelines, where hydrogen sulfide can induce cracking or hydrogen embrittlement from within the pipe, and carbon dioxide pipelines for carbon capture and sequestration or enhanced oil recovery from the oilsands. The laboratory suite also includes the capability for standardized sour service testing at atmospheric pressure.

In addition, CanmetMATERIALS has a supercritical water corrosion test loop with integrated mechanical loading frame for slow strain rate and corrosion fatigue testing, as well as two high-temperature, high­-pressure autoclaves capable of achieving supercritical water conditions. This equipment, which is unique in Canada, primarily supports research focused on materials selection for Generation IV nuclear reactors for cleaner power generation.

Details on CanmetMATERIALS’ overall corrosion capabilities can be found under Corrosion.