Corrosion and Corrosion Control
Sometimes these deposits are filled with pasty or gelatinous hydrated iron oxides or colonies of bacteria Valdez, B. Usually, groundwater CaCO 3 saturated calcareous soils , due to the presence of dissolved CO 2 , whose content depends on its content in the air in contact with the water and on temperature.
These waters are often much higher in CO 2 content, so they may dissolve substantial amounts of calcium carbonate. These waters are at pressures lower than they had in the ground, so CO 2 gas lost with consequent supersaturation of carbonates. If conditions are appropriate, the excess of CaCO 3 can precipitate as small agglomerates deposited in muddy or hard layers on solid surfaces, forming deposits. An increase in temperature is an important factor and also leads to supersaturation of carbonates, with the consequent possibility of fouling.
Hard silica scale SiO 2 may appear with oversaturated waters or appear as different silicates SiO 4 4- trapped in the carbonate deposits. Generally, the silica appears trapped in other types of scale and it is not chemical precipitation. The voluminous precipitate occupies the pores, significantly reducing the permeability of the fouling.
Sometimes the Fe ions can come from corrosion of the pipe giving rise to simultaneous corrosion and scaling Figure 6. Common bacteria of the genera Gallionella, Leptothrix Cremothrix are known as Fe bacteria, can give reddish-yellow voluminous precipitate and sticky ferric compounds from ferrous ion, which drastically reduce the permeability of the deposit, in addition to trap other insoluble particles.
The cost for impairment of domestic water systems and the impact on health, involves several consequences: High levels of metals or oxides, which usually are not properly, treated in drinking water cause red or blue-green deposits and stains in the toilets sinks. In addition to concerns about the aesthetic appearance, a corrosion process can result in the presence of toxic metals in our drinking water. This analysis must be accompanied by measurements of water pH and conductivity, and corrosion tests applying international standards.
Corrosion control is complex and requires a basic knowledge of corrosion of the system and water chemistry. Systems can be installed for water pretreatment, using non-conductive connections, reducing the temperature of hot Cu water pipes employed and copper installing PVC or other plastic materials. It is important to note that the corrosiveness of water can be increased by the use of water softeners, aeration mechanisms, increasing the temperature of hot water, water chlorination, and attachment of various metals in the water conduction system. A proper balance between the treatment systems and water quality, can be obtained with acceptable levels of corrosivity.
Thus, the lifetime of the materials that make the water system in buildings, public networks, homes and other systems will be longer. A large part of steel structures: Large amounts of steel reinforced concrete structures are also buried in various soil types.
In the presence of soil moisture it is possible to have humid layer on the metal surface, whose aggressiveness depends on soil type and degree of pollution decaying organic matter, bacterial flora, etc. Thus, the soil can form on the metal surface an electrolyte complex with varying degrees of aggressiveness, a necessary element for the development of an underground electrochemical corrosion. The corrosion process of buried structures is extremely variable and can occur in a very fast, but insignificant rate, so that pipes in the soil can have perforations, presenting localized corrosion attack or uniform.
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Metal structures are buried depending on their functionality and security. Most often they traverse large tracts of land, being exposed to soils with different degrees of aggressiveness exposed to air under atmospheric conditions Figure 7. When pipes or tanks are damaged by corrosion, the formation of macro-and micro-cracks can lead to leaks of contained products or fluids transported, causing problems of environmental pollution, accidents and explosions, which can end in loss of life and property Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, In the case of pipes used to carry and distribute water, a leak may cause loss of this vital liquid, so necessary for the development of society in general and especially important in regions where water is scarce, so the leakage through aqueducts pipes should be avoided.
An important tool needed to prevent the most serious events, is the knowledge of the specific soil and its influence on the corrosion of metal structures. A natural soil contains various components, such as sand, clay, silt, peat and also organic matter and organisms, gas, mineral particles and moisture. The soils are usually named and classified according to the predominant size range of individual inorganic constituent particles.
For example, sandy soil particles 0. A comparison of the sizes of these typical soils is done in Figure 8. Currently exists in the U. The variation in the proportion of the groups of soil with different sizes, determines many of its properties. Fine-textured soils due to high clay content, have amassed particles, so they have less ability to store and transport gases such as oxygen, that any ground-open e. The mineralogy of both clay types and their properties, are closely related to the corrosivity of the soil.
Silica SiO 2 is the main chemical constituent of soils type clay, loam and silt, also in the presence of Al 2 O 3. The chemical composition and mineralogy of the soil determine its corrosive aggressiveness; poorly drained soils clay, silt and loam are the most corrosive, while soils with good drainage gravel and sand type are less aggressive to metals. Vertically homogeneous soils do not exist, so it is convenient to consider the non-uniformity of ground, formed of different earth layers.
To understand the corrosion behavior of a buried metal is very important to have information about the soil profile cross section of soil layers.
Corrosion - Wikipedia
The physicochemical and biological nature of soil, corrosive aggressiveness and dynamic interactions with the environment, distinguishes the ground like a very complex environment and different from many others. Climate changes of solar radiation, air temperature and relative humidity, amount of rainfall and soil moisture are important factors in corrosion. Wind, mechanical action of natural forces, chemical and biological factors, human manipulation can alter soil properties, which directly affects the rate of corrosion of metals buried in the ground.
Conditions may vary from atmospheric corrosion, complete immersion of the metal, depending on the degree of compactness of the soil existence of capillaries and pores and moisture content. Two conditions are necessary to initiate corrosion of metal in soil: After startup, a variety of variables can affect the corrosion process, mentioned above, and among them of importance are the relative acidity or alkalinity of the soil pH , also the content and type of dissolved salts. Mainly three types of water provide moisture to the soil: The presence of moisture in soils with a good conductivity presence of dissolved salts , is an indication for high ion content and possible strong corrosive attack.
The main factors that determine the corrosive aggressiveness of the soil are moisture, relative acidity pH , ionic composition, electrical resistance, microbiological activity. Given the electrochemical nature of corrosion of buried metals and specific soils, this can be controlled through the application of electrochemical techniques of control, such as cathodic protection. This method has been universally adopted and is appropriate to protect buried metallic structures.
For an effective system of protection and cheaper maintenance, pipelines must be pre-coated, using different types of coatings, such as coal tar, epoxies, etc. This helps reduce the area of bare metal in direct contact with the ground, lowering the demand for protection during the corrosion process. One of the most common corrosion problems in pipes, ducts, tanks, preheaters, boilers and other metal structures, insulated heat exchange systems, is the wear and corrosion occurring on metal steel, galvanized steel, Al, SS, etc. This corrosion is known as corrosion under deposit.
For example, in the case of a calcareous deposit, formed in the walls of galvanized steel pipes which carry water with a high degree of hardness dissolved salts , it might develop corrosion under deposit. For this reason the pipes could be damaged severely in these locations up to perforation, while in parts of the installation corrosion might occur at a much lower level. There is a considerable amount of factors in the design, construction and maintenance, which can be controlled to avoid the effects of deterioration of metal by corrosion under deposit.
In general, under these conditions the metal is exposed to frequent cycles of moisture, corrosivity of the aqueous medium or failure in the protective coatings paint, metal, cement, fiberglass, etc. Figure 9 shows a conductor tube steam in a geothermal power plant, where CS corrosion happened beneath the insulation.
Seven factors can be controlled on the ground, to prevent this type of corrosion: Any change in any of these factors may provide the necessary conditions for the corrosion process to take place. The management knowledge of these factors help explain the causes of the onset conditions of corrosion under deposits, and it will guide a better inspection of existing equipment and the best design.
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- Description.
The design of pressure vessels, tanks and pipes, generally includes accessories for support, reinforcement and connection to other equipment. Details about the installation of accessories are the responsibility of the engineers or designers, using building codes to ensure reliability of both insulated and non insulated equipment. The protective barrier against the environment surrounding the metal structure in such designs often breaks donor due to an inappropriate insulation, loss of space for the specified thickness of insulation or simply by improper handling during installation of the equipment.
The consequence of a rupture or insulation failure means greater flow water ingress to the space between metal and coating hot-cold cycle, generating over time a buildup of corrosive fluid, increasing the likelihood of corrosive damage. Moreover, wet insulation will be inefficient and also cause economic losses.
The solution of this factor is to meet the thickness specifications and spacing, as indicated in the code or equipment-building specifications and characteristics of the coating used. The operating temperature is important for two reasons: Usually a team operating in freezing temperatures is protected against corrosion for a considerable life time.
However, some peripheral devices, which are coupled to these cold spots and operating at higher temperatures, are exposed to moist, air and steam, with cycles of condensation in localized areas, which make them more vulnerable to corrosion. For most operating equipment at freezing conditions, the corrosion occurs in areas outside and below the insulation. Also, in good water-proof insulation, corrosion is likely to occur at points where small cracks or flaws are present, so that water can reach the hot metal and evaporate quickly.
On the other hand, in machines where the temperature reaches extreme values, as in the case of distillation towers, it is very likely to occur severe corrosion problems. The characteristics of the insulation, which have a greater influence on the corrosion processes deposits, are the ability to absorb water and chemical contribution to the aqueous phase. The polyurethane foam insulation is one of the most widely used; however, in cold conditions they promote corrosion due to water absorption present.
The coatings of glass fiber or asbestos can be used in these conditions, always when the capacity of absorbing water do not becomes too high. Corrosion is possible under all these types of coating, such insulation. The selection of insulation requires considering a large group of advantages and disadvantages regarding the installation, operation, cost, and corrosion protection, which is not an easy task. The outside of the insulation is the first protective barrier against the elements and this makes it a critical factor, plus it is the only part of the system that can be readily inspected and repaired by a relatively inexpensive process.
The durability and appearance, melting point fire protection, flame resistance and installation costs are other important factors that must be taken into account together with the permeability of the insulation. Usually the maintenance program should include repairs to the range of 2 to 5 years. Obviously the weather is important and corrosion under thermal insulation will more easily in areas where humidity is high.
Sometimes conditions of microclimate can be achieved through the use of a good design team. One of the most important elements of our daily life, which has great impact on economic activity, is represented by automotive vehicles. These vehicles are used to transport people, animals, grains, food, machinery, medicines, supplies, materials, etc. They range from compact cars to light trucks, heavy duty, large capacity and size. All operate mostly through the operation of internal combustion engines, which exploit the heat energy generated by this process and convert it in a mechanical force and provide traction to these vehicles.
The amount and type of materials used in the construction of automotive vehicles are diverse, as the component parts. They are usually constructed of carbon steel, fiberglass, aluminum, magnesium, copper, cast iron, glass, various polymers and metal alloys. Also, for aesthetic and protection against corrosion due to environmental factors, most of the body is covered with paint systems, but different metal parts are protected with metallic or inorganic coatings. Corrosion in a car is a phenomenon with which we are in some way familiar and is perhaps for this reason that we often take precautions to avoid this deterioration problem.
A small family car, with an average weight of kg, is constructed of about kg of sheet steel, forged steel kg, kg cast iron mainly for the engine block now many are made of aluminum , 15 kg of copper wires, 35 kg and of plastic 50 kg of glass that usually do not deteriorate, and 60 kg for rubber tires; which wear and tear. The remaining material is for carpets, water and oil. Obviously, that is an advanced technology in the car industry, with automobiles incorporating many non-metallic materials into their structure.
However, the problem of corrosion occurs at parts where the operation of the vehicle is compromised. Corrosion happens in many parts of the car mostly invisible it is not only undesirable for the problems it causes, but also reduces the vehicle's resale value and decreases the strength of the structure. To keep the car in good condition and appearance, its high price, it is necessary to pay attention to the hidden parts of the vehicle.
The main cause of corrosion of the car body is the accumulation of dust in different closed parts, which stays for a long time by absorbing moisture, so that in these areas metal corrosion proceeds, while in the clean and dry external parts it does not occur Figure The corrosion problem that occurs in the metal car body has been a serious problem that usually arises most often in coastal environments, contaminated with chlorides and rural areas with high humidity and specific contaminants. Many countries use salt NaCl, CaCl 2 or MgCl 2 to keep the roads free of ice; under these conditions these salts, in combination with the dust blown by the car, provide conditions for accelerated corrosion.
Therefore, it is recommended as a preventative measure, after a visit on the coast or being on dirty roads, to wash the car with water, and also the tires and the doors, especially their lower parts. In urban environments, the corrosion problem has been reduced due to the new design and application of protective coatings, introduced by major manufacturers in the early nineties of the twentieth century.
The areas most affected are fenders, metal and chrome bumpers views which are used in some luxury vehicles as well as areas where water and mud are easily accumulated e. In regions with high incidence of solar radiation and the presence of abrasive dust, paint vehicles deteriorate rapidly. The hot, humid weather, combined with high levels of SO 2 and NO x emissions that come from burning oil, chlorides salt. In the Gulf of Arabia, the blowing sand from the nearby desert, creates a very aggressive environment; statistics reveals that one in seven cars is damaged and due to corrosion the car life is estimated to an average of 8 months, also the car corrosion resistance decreases in the following order: White paints generally have shown a significantly better corrosion protection than other colors.
Initially, corrosion defects appear as a kind of dots and spots of corrosion products formed under the paint and subsequently emerge from the steel sheet, leaving a free entry for moisture and air oxygen , accelerating the corrosion process; in these cases reddish metal corrosion products. The cooling system of a car combustion engine consists of several components, constructed of a variety of metals: Most modern automobiles, with iron block engine and aluminum cylinder head, require inhibitor introduced into the cooling water to prevent corrosion in the cooling system.
The inhibitor is not antifreeze, although there are in the market solutions which have the combination of inhibitor-antifreeze. The important thing is to use only the inhibitor recommended in the automobile manual and not a mixture of inhibitors, since these may act in different ways and mechanisms. The circulating water flow should work fine without loss outside the system. If the system is dirty, the water should be drain and filling the system with a cleaning solution.
It is not recommended to fill the system with hard water, but with soft water, introducing again the inhibitor in the correct concentration. If there exhaust at the water cooling system, every time water is added the inhibitor concentration should be maintained to prevent. In small cars, it is common for water pumps; constructed mainly of aluminum, to fail due to corrosion, cavitation, erosion and corrosion, making it necessary to replace the pump Valdez, B.
Accelerated corrosion in these cases is often due to the use of a strong alkaline solution of antifreeze. On the other hand, in heavy duty diesel trucks, the cooling system is filled with tap water or use filters with rich conditioner chromates that can cause the pistons jackets to suffer localized corrosion. After 12 or 15 months, the steel jackets are perforated and the water passes into the cavity through which the piston runs, forcing to carry out repair operations Figure Corrosion causes great economic losses to the transport industry, since it must stop to repair the truck and abandon to provide the service with all the consequences that this entails.
Furthermore, the use of chemical conditioning is now controlled by environmental regulations, so chromates and phosphates are restricted and novel mixtures of corrosion inhibitors have been produced to control the problem of corrosion in automobile cooling systems. Exhaust pipes made of SS 0. This SS resists corrosion much more than conventional CS and thus their long life covers the higher price. Another alternative is to use conventional CS tube, zinc coated or aluminum Figure These exhaust pipes are less expensive than stainless steel, but less resistant to corrosion.
The acidic environment which is generated on the surface of accumulators supplying the energy necessary for starting the engine, favors conducting corrosion processes in the lead terminals, where the cables are connected by bronze or steel clamps. Thus, this environment and these contact zones predispose cells to a process galvanic corrosion, which gradually deteriorates the contact wires, generating bulky corrosion products. This phenomenon is called sulfation of the contacts due to the sulfuric acid containing the battery, thus forming white sulfates on the corroded metal surface.
These products introduce high resistance to current flow and cause failure to the engine ignition system, and impede the battery charge process. This problem has been eliminated in batteries that have airtight seals, or are manufactured with new technologies as well as bases covered with organic coatings that prevent corrosion.
Some years ago it was common for starters to fail, because the moisture or water penetrated into the gear area preventing it sliding motion and causing burning of the electric motor. Currently, new designs avoid contact with moisture and other foreign agents, preventing the occurrence of corrosion problems in these devices. As a preventive measure is recommended to prevent spillage of battery acid, to periodically clean the battery terminals with a brush of wire or a special instrument , also coat them with petroleum jelly to prevent corrosion in these contact areas.
A fat based composition which contains several components: In general, in wet weather, the contacts of the accumulators have a tendency to more accelerated corrosion, thus requiring greater care to disconnect the terminals when not being used. To keep the vehicle for a longer time without the appearance of corrosion, it always requires washing with running water and, the use of very soft brush or cloth-like material, with a special detergent not household detergents, which are very corrosive and finally wash the vehicle with plenty of water.
The floor carpet should be maintained clean and dry. A car should not be left wet in a hot garage, since under these conditions accelerated corrosion takes place since the water does not dry and can condense on the cold parts of the vehicle. In these cases, it is best not to close the garage door or use a roof space, to protect it from rain, and not allow moisture condensation.
However, if the vehicle is left unused for a long time in a closed garage, it should be protected from dust, moisture and contaminants. Electricity is a key element in ensuring economic growth and social development of a country. Many conventional power plants in recent years are being installed in combined cycle power plants, also called cogeneration.
A power station is a thermoelectric energy conversion system, starting with the chemical energy of fuel that during combustion is converted into heat energy accumulated in the steam. This thermal energy generates mechanical energy from the hot steam, which expands in a turbine, turning on electricity in the generator. In this process of low energy thermal efficiency is lost in the hot gases that escape through the chimney and the cooling steam in the condenser.
Electricity generating plants burn fossil fuels such as coal, fuel oil and natural gas. These fuels containing as minor components sulfur compounds S , nitrogen N , vanadium V and chloride Cl -. These are corrosive chemicals attacking the metal infrastructure; and polluting the environment by becoming acid gas emissions, also affecting the health of the population. The three central equipment of a thermoelectric plant are the boiler, which converts the water into steam, the steam turbine to whom the pressure imparts a rotary motion and the condenser that condenses the vapor released by the turbine and the condensed water is returned to the boiler as feed water.
The turbine itself transmits rotary motion to the generator of electricity, which will be distributed to industrial, commercial and homes in cities. Corrosion in steam plant equipment occurs in two parts of the boiler: The boiler feedwater must be treated to eliminate the corrosive components: The water is softened by eliminating salts and treated to remove oxygen; the pH is controlled by addition of alkaline phosphate to reach a pH range of 10 to 11, and inhibitors are added to the feedwater to prevent corrosion. The damaged tubes lose its thickness generating metal corrosion products; they often are fractured, suffering a stress corrosion due to the combined effects of mechanical stress and corrosion Figure Since the tubes lose steam and pressure, the operation of the plant is interrupted and the tubes or its sections should be changed incurring severe economic losses.
Such statistics indicate that the power generation industry needs to obtain a balance between cost and methods for controlling effectively corrosion in their plants. It is sometimes advisable to add additives to the fuel, for example, magnesium oxide which prevent the deposition of the molten salts on the boiler tubes. Corrosion occurs also in the combustion air preheater, by sulphurous gases which react with condense and form sulfuric acid.
Metal components of the turbine rotor: In these cases, it is common to observe the phenomena of erosion-corrosion, pitting and stress corrosion fracture; their damage can be ameliorated through a strict quality control of boiler water and steam. Efficient maintenance and corrosion control in a power plant is based on the following:. Operation according to mechanical and thermal regime, indicated by the designer and builder of the plant;.
Chemical cleaning of the surfaces in contact with water and steam, using acidic solutions containing corrosion inhibitors, passivating ammoniacal solutions and solutions;. Mechanical cleaning of surfaces covered with deposits deposits , using alkaline solutions and water under pressure;. Perform an optimum selection of the materials of construction for the components of the plant, including those suitable as protective coatings.
The installation of online monitoring of corrosion in critical plant areas will be one of the most effective actions to control corrosion. In addition, it is recommended same use and document to use corrosion expert system software and materials databases for the analysis of the materials corrosion behavior. Corrosion in power plants can be controlled by applying the knowledge, methods, standards and materials, based on corrosion engineering and technology.
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The development of alternative energy sources represents one of the most attractive challenges for engineering. There are several types of renewable energies already in operation, such as wind, solar and geothermal. Geothermal environments can lead to aggressive environments, e. The physical and chemical properties of the vapor at "Cerro Prieto" make it an aggressive environment for almost any type of material: The typical chemical composition of a geothermal brine, is shown in Table 4.
Many engineering materials are present as components of the infrastructure and field equipment, required for the steam separation, purification and posterior operations for the generation of electricity. This entire infrastructure is a costly investment and therefore, failure or stoppage of one of them, means economic losses, regardless of how vital it is to maintain constant production of much-needed electricity.
Corrosion in concrete structures used to separate steam from water and to operate steam silencers. In the process of the geothermal fluid exploitation, corrosion of metal structures occurs from the wells drilling operation, where the drilling mud used, causes corrosion of pumping and piping equipment. Subsequently, when the wells pipes are in contact with the steam, they can also suffer from corrosion-erosion problems, where the corrosive agent is hydrogen sulfide. Steam separators and the pipes are exposed to problems of fouling and localized corrosion due to the presence of aggressive components such as H 2 S and chloride ions Cl - , present in the wells fluid.
These agents lead to the deterioration of reinforced concrete foundations supporting steel pipes, or other concrete structures used to separate steam from water and to operate steam silencers. The reinforced concrete deterioration due to steel corrosion in this aggressive environment, and the steam pressure mechanical forces lead to concrete damage with formation of cracks and fractures. In the power plants, the observed corrosion affects components of the steam turbines, condensers and pipelines, and also the cooling towers and concrete structures inside and outside the building that houses the plant.
In these cases, the effects of corrosive attack appears in the form of localized corrosion in metal walls and gas piping or as corrosion fatigue or stress corrosion, caused by cyclic mechanical forces or residual stresses, in turbines and other metal equipment. Table 5 shows a list of equipment and materials used for construction, which are part of the infrastructure of a geothermal power Valdez, B.
The combination of an aerated moist environment with the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas H 2 S dissolved in water provides a very aggressive medium Figure 16 , which promotes the corrosion of metals and alloys, such as CS and SS. The presence of dust, from the geothermal field and condensation cycles favor the failure of protective coatings applied to steel, so that developed corrosion leads to constant repairs and maintenance of metal installations: Cooling towers constructed of wood, steel and fiberglass in the presence of flowing and stagnant water and air currents induced to complete cooling fans , suffer a serious deterioration of the steel by corrosion and biodeterioration, involving a variety of microorganisms.
The timber is subjected to oxygen delignification under the effect of colonies of fungi and algae, as well as fiberglass reinforced polyester screens, which deteriorate due to colonies of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria e. Furthermore, carbon steels corrode in the form of delamination due to sulfate reduction processes which induce the oxidation of iron, while the SS nails and screws undergoes localized corrosion, forming pits Figure The deterioration by microorganisms capable of living in these conditions is one of the processes that have provided more information to the study of corrosion induced by microorganisms.
Biodeterioration of polyester polymeric matrix in a fiberglass screen exposed at geothermal temperatures. Corrosion of the infrastructure used in the pulping and paper industry, is another serious problem for corrosion specialists. The wide experience, gathered from cases of corrosion in the various infrastructure components of the paper industry, has provided an extensive literature on mechanisms, types and control of corrosion in this environment. In the early 60's of last century, when the continuous digester process was adopted, the paper industry had limited knowledge about caustic embrittlement.
Currently, it is known that the digesters are subjected to caustic levels and temperatures too close to the fracture caustic range where the total relieves of stresses in the material are essential. To elucidate the mechanism of this phenomenon, it was necessary to conduct serious investigations, which subsequently provide solutions to the problem of corrosion and caustic embrittlement. Technology in the paper industry has evolved over the last forty years and in parallel we can talk about the solution of corrosion problems in different parts of its infrastructure.
Components with high failure rate due to corrosion are those built of bronze, SS, cast iron. Corrosion occurs in the papermaking machinery, where the white water equipment is subjected to an aggressive environment.
1. Introduction
The metal surfaces are exposed to immersion in this water; to steam that promotes the formation of cracks, which favor the deposit of pulp and other compounds. In the mill bleach plants the pulp equipment has traditionally been made of SS which has good general corrosion resistance and weldability. However, in the last 25 years the environment in these plants has become much more corrosive due to the wash systems employed for the paper pulp, which increased the emission of oxidizing and corrosive gases; so type " L" SS is not resistant and has a shorter service life.
Many mills in the paper industry have opted for the use of high-alloy SS, nickel Ni and titanium Ti , for better corrosion resistance in these particular environments. In general, SS exposed to corrosive environment of bleach plants are benefited by the share of chromium, nickel and molybdenum as alloying elements, which increase their resistance to the initiation of pitting and crevice corrosion.
The addition of nitrogen N increases its resistance to pitting corrosion, particularly when it contains molybdenum Mo. Furthermore, to avoid waste of elements such as carbon C , where a concentration greater than 0. Other waste elements, such as phosphorus P and sulfur S can cause fractures in the hot steel, formed in the metal welding area.
The corrosive environment of bleach plants contain residual oxidants such as chlorine Cl 2 and chlorine dioxide ClO 2 , these are added to resists the effects of temperature and acidity, maintaining a very aggressive environment. Corrosion also occurs in the pulping liquor facilities by sulfites, chemical recovery boilers, suction rolls and Kraft pulping liquors. The Kraft process is the method of producing pulp or cellulose paste, to extract the wood fibers, necessary for the manufacture of paper. The process involves the use of sodium hydroxide NaOH and sodium sulfite Na 2 SO 3 to extract the lignin from wood fibers, using large high pressure digesters.
High strength is obtained in the fiber and methods for recovery of chemicals explain the popularity of the Kraft process. The black liquor separated, is concentrated by evaporation and burned in a recovery boiler to generate high pressure steam, which can be used for the plant steam requirements for the production of electricity.
The inorganic portion of the liquor is used to regenerate sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfite, necessary for pulping. Corrosion of metals in the facilities used in this process may occur during the acid pickling operation for the removal of carbonate incrustations on the walls and black liquor pipe heaters. It has been found that SS L presents fracture failure and stress corrosion. In the recovery processes of chemical reagents, known as stage re alkalinization, metals can fail due to caustic embrittlement or corrosion-erosion under conditions of turbulent flow.
Corrosion Control in Industry
Corrosion also occurs in the equipment used for mechanical pulping, such as stress corrosion cracking, crevice corrosion, cavitation and corrosion-friction. Embed this code snippet in the HTML of your website to show this chapter. Help us write another book on this subject and reach those readers. Login to your personal dashboard for more detailed statistics on your publications.
Edited by Benjamin Valdez. We are IntechOpen, the world's leading publisher of Open Access books. Built by scientists, for scientists. Our readership spans scientists, professors, researchers, librarians, and students, as well as business professionals. December 12th DOI: Introduction The economic development of any region, state or country, depends not only on its natural resources and productive activities, but also on the infrastructure that account for the exploitation, processing and marketing of goods.
The dark lines in the sensitized microstructure are networks of chromium carbides formed along the grain boundaries. Special alloys, either with low carbon content or with added carbon " getters " such as titanium and niobium in types and , respectively , can prevent this effect, but the latter require special heat treatment after welding to prevent the similar phenomenon of "knifeline attack". As its name implies, corrosion is limited to a very narrow zone adjacent to the weld, often only a few micrometers across, making it even less noticeable. Crevice corrosion is a localized form of corrosion occurring in confined spaces crevices , to which the access of the working fluid from the environment is limited.
Formation of a differential aeration cell leads to corrosion inside the crevices. Examples of crevices are gaps and contact areas between parts, under gaskets or seals, inside cracks and seams, spaces filled with deposits and under sludge piles. Crevice corrosion is influenced by the crevice type metal-metal, metal-nonmetal , crevice geometry size, surface finish , and metallurgical and environmental factors.
The susceptibility to crevice corrosion can be evaluated with ASTM standard procedures. A critical crevice corrosion temperature is commonly used to rank a material's resistance to crevice corrosion. Microbial corrosion , or commonly known as microbiologically influenced corrosion MIC , is a corrosion caused or promoted by microorganisms , usually chemoautotrophs. It can apply to both metallic and non-metallic materials, in the presence or absence of oxygen. Sulfate-reducing bacteria are active in the absence of oxygen anaerobic ; they produce hydrogen sulfide , causing sulfide stress cracking.
In the presence of oxygen aerobic , some bacteria may directly oxidize iron to iron oxides and hydroxides, other bacteria oxidize sulfur and produce sulfuric acid causing biogenic sulfide corrosion. Concentration cells can form in the deposits of corrosion products, leading to localized corrosion. Accelerated low-water corrosion ALWC is a particularly aggressive form of MIC that affects steel piles in seawater near the low water tide mark. It is characterized by an orange sludge, which smells of hydrogen sulfide when treated with acid.
Corrosion rates can be very high and design corrosion allowances can soon be exceeded leading to premature failure of the steel pile. For unprotected piles, sacrificial anodes can be installed locally to the affected areas to inhibit the corrosion or a complete retrofitted sacrificial anode system can be installed. Affected areas can also be treated using cathodic protection, using either sacrificial anodes or applying current to an inert anode to produce a calcareous deposit, which will help shield the metal from further attack.
High-temperature corrosion is chemical deterioration of a material typically a metal as a result of heating. This non-galvanic form of corrosion can occur when a metal is subjected to a hot atmosphere containing oxygen, sulfur, or other compounds capable of oxidizing or assisting the oxidation of the material concerned.
For example, materials used in aerospace, power generation and even in car engines have to resist sustained periods at high temperature in which they may be exposed to an atmosphere containing potentially highly corrosive products of combustion. The products of high-temperature corrosion can potentially be turned to the advantage of the engineer. The formation of oxides on stainless steels, for example, can provide a protective layer preventing further atmospheric attack, allowing for a material to be used for sustained periods at both room and high temperatures in hostile conditions.
Such high-temperature corrosion products, in the form of compacted oxide layer glazes , prevent or reduce wear during high-temperature sliding contact of metallic or metallic and ceramic surfaces. Metal dusting is a catastrophic form of corrosion that occurs when susceptible materials are exposed to environments with high carbon activities, such as synthesis gas and other high-CO environments. The corrosion manifests itself as a break-up of bulk metal to metal powder. The suspected mechanism is firstly the deposition of a graphite layer on the surface of the metal, usually from carbon monoxide CO in the vapor phase.
This graphite layer is then thought to form metastable M 3 C species where M is the metal , which migrate away from the metal surface. However, in some regimes no M 3 C species is observed indicating a direct transfer of metal atoms into the graphite layer. Various treatments are used to slow corrosion damage to metallic objects which are exposed to the weather, salt water, acids, or other hostile environments.
Some unprotected metallic alloys are extremely vulnerable to corrosion, such as those used in neodymium magnets , which can spall or crumble into powder even in dry, temperature-stable indoor environments unless properly treated to discourage corrosion. When surface treatments are used to retard corrosion, great care must be taken to ensure complete coverage, without gaps, cracks, or pinhole defects.
Small defects can act as an " Achilles' heel ", allowing corrosion to penetrate the interior and causing extensive damage even while the outer protective layer remains apparently intact for a period of time. Plating , painting , and the application of enamel are the most common anti-corrosion treatments.
They work by providing a barrier of corrosion-resistant material between the damaging environment and the structural material. Aside from cosmetic and manufacturing issues, there may be tradeoffs in mechanical flexibility versus resistance to abrasion and high temperature. Platings usually fail only in small sections, but if the plating is more noble than the substrate for example, chromium on steel , a galvanic couple will cause any exposed area to corrode much more rapidly than an unplated surface would.
For this reason, it is often wise to plate with active metal such as zinc or cadmium. If the zinc coating is not thick enough the surface soon becomes unsightly with rusting obvious. The design life is directly related to the metal coating thickness. Painting either by roller or brush is more desirable for tight spaces; spray would be better for larger coating areas such as steel decks and waterfront applications.
Flexible polyurethane coatings, like Durabak-M26 for example, can provide an anti-corrosive seal with a highly durable slip resistant membrane. Painted coatings are relatively easy to apply and have fast drying times although temperature and humidity may cause dry times to vary. If the environment is controlled especially in recirculating systems , corrosion inhibitors can often be added to it. These chemicals form an electrically insulating or chemically impermeable coating on exposed metal surfaces, to suppress electrochemical reactions.
Such methods make the system less sensitive to scratches or defects in the coating, since extra inhibitors can be made available wherever metal becomes exposed. Chemicals that inhibit corrosion include some of the salts in hard water Roman water systems are famous for their mineral deposits , chromates , phosphates , polyaniline , other conducting polymers and a wide range of specially-designed chemicals that resemble surfactants i.
Aluminium alloys often undergo a surface treatment. Electrochemical conditions in the bath are carefully adjusted so that uniform pores, several nanometers wide, appear in the metal's oxide film. These pores allow the oxide to grow much thicker than passivating conditions would allow. At the end of the treatment, the pores are allowed to seal, forming a harder-than-usual surface layer.
If this coating is scratched, normal passivation processes take over to protect the damaged area. Anodizing is very resilient to weathering and corrosion, so it is commonly used for building facades and other areas where the surface will come into regular contact with the elements. While being resilient, it must be cleaned frequently. If left without cleaning, panel edge staining will naturally occur. Anodization is the process of converting an anode into cathode by bringing a more active anode in contact with it.
A new form of protection has been developed by applying certain species of bacterial films to the surface of metals in highly corrosive environments. This process increases the corrosion resistance substantially. Alternatively, antimicrobial-producing biofilms can be used to inhibit mild steel corrosion from sulfate-reducing bacteria. Controlled permeability formwork CPF is a method of preventing the corrosion of reinforcement by naturally enhancing the durability of the cover during concrete placement. CPF has been used in environments to combat the effects of carbonation , chlorides, frost and abrasion.
Cathodic protection CP is a technique to control the corrosion of a metal surface by making that surface the cathode of an electrochemical cell. Cathodic protection systems are most commonly used to protect steel, and pipelines and tanks; steel pier piles , ships, and offshore oil platforms. For effective CP, the potential of the steel surface is polarized pushed more negative until the metal surface has a uniform potential. With a uniform potential, the driving force for the corrosion reaction is halted. For galvanic CP systems, the anode material corrodes under the influence of the steel, and eventually it must be replaced.
The polarization is caused by the current flow from the anode to the cathode, driven by the difference in electrode potential between the anode and the cathode. The most common sacrificial anode materials are aluminum, zinc, magnesium and related alloys. Aluminum has the highest capacity, and magnesium has the highest driving voltage and is thus used where resistance is higher.
Zinc is general purpose and the basis for galvanizing. For larger structures, galvanic anodes cannot economically deliver enough current to provide complete protection. Impressed current cathodic protection ICCP systems use anodes connected to a DC power source such as a cathodic protection rectifier.
Anodes for ICCP systems are tubular and solid rod shapes of various specialized materials. These include high silicon cast iron , graphite, mixed metal oxide or platinum coated titanium or niobium coated rod and wires. Anodic protection impresses anodic current on the structure to be protected opposite to the cathodic protection.
It is appropriate for metals that exhibit passivity e. It is used in aggressive environments, such as solutions of sulfuric acid. A simple test for measuring corrosion is the weight loss method. The rate of corrosion R is calculated as. Other common expressions for the corrosion rate is penetration depth and change of mechanical properties.
In , the total annual direct cost of corrosion in the U. Rust is one of the most common causes of bridge accidents. As rust has a much higher volume than the originating mass of iron, its build-up can also cause failure by forcing apart adjacent parts. It was the cause of the collapse of the Mianus river bridge in , when the bearings rusted internally and pushed one corner of the road slab off its support. Three drivers on the roadway at the time died as the slab fell into the river below. The following NTSB investigation showed that a drain in the road had been blocked for road re-surfacing, and had not been unblocked; as a result, runoff water penetrated the support hangers.
Rust was also an important factor in the Silver Bridge disaster of in West Virginia , when a steel suspension bridge collapsed within a minute, killing 46 drivers and passengers on the bridge at the time. Similarly, corrosion of concrete-covered steel and iron can cause the concrete to spall , creating severe structural problems. It is one of the most common failure modes of reinforced concrete bridges.
Notes - CORROSION AND CORROSION CONTROL
Measuring instruments based on the half-cell potential can detect the potential corrosion spots before total failure of the concrete structure is reached. Until 20—30 years ago, galvanized steel pipe was used extensively in the potable water systems for single and multi-family residents as well as commercial and public construction. Today, these systems have long ago consumed the protective zinc and are corroding internally resulting in poor water quality and pipe failures. Most ceramic materials are almost entirely immune to corrosion. The strong chemical bonds that hold them together leave very little free chemical energy in the structure; they can be thought of as already corroded.
When corrosion does occur, it is almost always a simple dissolution of the material or chemical reaction, rather than an electrochemical process. A common example of corrosion protection in ceramics is the lime added to soda-lime glass to reduce its solubility in water; though it is not nearly as soluble as pure sodium silicate , normal glass does form sub-microscopic flaws when exposed to moisture.
Due to its brittleness , such flaws cause a dramatic reduction in the strength of a glass object during its first few hours at room temperature. Polymer degradation involves several complex and often poorly understood physiochemical processes. These are strikingly different from the other processes discussed here, and so the term "corrosion" is only applied to them in a loose sense of the word.
Because of their large molecular weight, very little entropy can be gained by mixing a given mass of polymer with another substance, making them generally quite difficult to dissolve. While dissolution is a problem in some polymer applications, it is relatively simple to design against.
A more common and related problem is "swelling", where small molecules infiltrate the structure, reducing strength and stiffness and causing a volume change. Conversely, many polymers notably flexible vinyl are intentionally swelled with plasticizers , which can be leached out of the structure, causing brittleness or other undesirable changes. The most common form of degradation, however, is a decrease in polymer chain length.
Mechanisms which break polymer chains are familiar to biologists because of their effect on DNA: Ozone cracking is a well-known problem affecting natural rubber for example.