Corrosion Behavior of Mild Steel and SS 304L in Presence of Dissolved Copper

M. Mobin, Hina Shabnam

Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Technology Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002 (India),.

DOI: 10.4236/jmmce.2010.912081                

Abstract

The failure of steel components in multistage flash (MSF) desalination or power plants as a result of the deposition of carryover heavy metals/oxides is a common problem and reported by many authors. The present investigation was undertaken to study the corrosion behavior of mild steel and AISI 304L SS in presence of dissolved Cu ions under different experimental conditions. The experimental conditions include: variation in aqueous medium, Cu ion concentration, pH and flow condition. The corrosion rate of mild steel and SS 304L in presence of different concentration of Cu was determined by weight loss measurements and solvent analysis of iron ions into the test solution after completion of immersion. The amount of Cu ions present in the test solution after completion of immersion was also estimated using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The pH of the test solution was monitored during the entire period of immersion. Electrochemical techniques like free corrosion potential measurements and potentiodynamic polarization measurements were carried to find out the role of Cu ions on the corrosion behavior of mild steel and SS 304L. The effect of Cu on corrosion rate of mild steel is quite pronounced and follows interesting trend. However, SS 304L is not affected either in distilled water or artificial seawater and do not show any significant variation in corrosion rates in presence of Cu ions.

Keywords

Mild steel; SS 304L; corrosion; copper ions; immersion tests; electrochemical tests

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Malik, A.U., Kutty, P.C.M., Andijani, I.N. and Al-Fozan, S.A., Materials Performance and Failure Evaluation in SWCC MSF Plants, Desalination, 97, p.171. (1994).
[2]	Asphahani, A.I. and Silence, W.L., Metal Hand Book: ASME Publication. 13 p. 113. (1987).
[3]	Internal Corrosion of Water Distribution System: Cooperative Research Report, American Water Work Association and DVGW-for Schungsteus, p. 191. (1985)
[4]	Schrieber, C.F., Measurement and Control Related Corrosion and Scales in Water Desalination Installation in Measurement of Control in Water Desalination, p. 427. (1986).
[5]	L. Kenworthy, The Problems of Copper and Galvanized Iron in Water System, J. Inst. Metals. (1943).
[6]	H. Guise, Dissolved copper effect on iron pipe, J.AWWA, 63, p.79. (1971).
[7]	G.P. Treweek, R.R. Trusell and R.D. Pomeroy, Copper induced corrosion of galvanized steel pipe, in Proc. 6th Water Technology Conference, Louisville, AWWA, Denver, (1978).
[8]	L. Grrasha, W. Rinse and M. Davis, Corrosive Effect of Dissolved Copper on Galvanized Steel, Phase-II, Internal Report, Metropolitan Water District of S.C., (1981).
[9]	A.U. Malik and M.A.K. Al-Sofi, Private communication, (1995).
[10]	E.A. Al-Sums, S. Aziz, A. Al-Radif, M.S. Said and O. Heikel, Vapor side corrosion of copper base condenser tubes of the MSF desalination plants of Abu Dhabi, Desalination, 97, p.109. (1994).
[11]	J. Otaker, Developing Steam purity limits, Power, New York, (1989).
[12]	ASTM D1141, Standard Specification for Substitute Ocean Water in Annual Book of ASTM Standards 4.08, ASM International, PA (1996).
[13]	M.G. Fontana, Corrosion Engineering, Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Ltd, New Delhi, p. 63. (2006).
[14]	Metal Handbook, ASM International, Vol. 13, Corrosion, 9th ed., p. 38. (1987).
[15]	T.Gu, Z.Huang, Coll. Surf. 40, p.71. (1989).