FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

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SEMESTER 1 2014/2015 SESSION

TEST 1 : MKMB 2613 (CORROSION I)

Answer all questions.

QUESTION 1 (16 marks)

Write the electrochemical half cell reactions for the following electrode-electrolyte conditions.
Determine the free energy change for each reaction, assuming the standard states for all reactants
and products. Give your comment on the results. (Faraday's Constant is 96500 C/mol and
standard EMF is given in Table 1)

(i) zinc and copper immersed in CuSO4 solution

(ii) aluminium in air free sulphuric acid
(iii) O2 + 4Cl- + 4H+ 2H2O + 2Cl2
(iv) 2Al + 3ZnSO4 Al2(SO4)3 + 3Zn
(16 marks)

QUESTION 2 (18 marks)

(a) Differentiate with the aid of schematic drawing between activation and concentration
polarisation.
(4 marks)

(b) Discuss with the aid of a relevant diagram how the following parameters are determined;
(i) corrosion rate in terms of current density, icorr .
(ii) corrosion potential, Ecorr
(iii) exchange current density, io
(8 marks)

(b) Explain how line a and line b (Figure 1) are drawn and briefly discuss on the importance of
these lines in terms of corrosion behavior of the metals.
(6 marks)

Figure 1

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QUESTION 3 (16 marks)

Figure 2 shows the effect of oxidizer concentration on the electrochemical behavior of an active-
passive metal.

(a) Briefly explain the difference between active, passive and transpassive behavior of an
active-passive alloy.
(4 marks)

(b) Explain the electrochemical behavior of the metal when the oxidizer concentration
increases from (i) 6 to 5 (ii) 5 to 4 (iii) 4 to 3 and (iv) 3 to 1

(8 marks)

(c) Based on Question 3(b), which condition shows low corrosion rate? Which condition
gives highest corrosion rate? Justify your answer.
(4 marks)

Figure 2

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