AbstractThe reliability of industrial gas turbines can be limited by the premature degradation of critical hot gas path components. Cost effective operation of these turbines therefore requires a knowledge of component life and its limitations according to service requirements. Through this knowledge, ways to restrict the degradation of components can also be determined. Creep, corrosion, and fatigue are considered to be the principal life limiting factors with the hot gas components. The present paper discusses the influence of these three processes on component life, and examples of associated service problems are presented. Specific reference is made to the corrosion resulting from the presence of sodium sulphate deposits in offshore turbines. Control of this corrosion through the use of fuel additives and protective coatings is considered. MST/448