Understanding erosion-corrosion phenomena affecting sealing rings in gas engines

To support the development of more effective preventive strategies and improve component durability, this thesis investigates the corrosion mechanisms responsible for the surface degradation of prechamber sealing rings employed in two engines, referred to as Engine A and Engine B, manufactured by the company INNIO Jenbacher. The research combines theoretical and experimental approaches. After reviewing relevant corrosion types, material properties, and component function, damaged sealing rings were examined using optical microscopy and SEM/EDS analysis. For a more in-depth investigation, cross sections of selected samples were also prepared for further analysis. The findings suggest that the sealing rings from Engine A were most likely affected by pitting corrosion, while those from Engine B exhibited signs of crevice corrosion, potentially accompanied by erosion-corrosion due to the component's geometric features.