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DEGRADATION OF METALS
CORROSION
Aggressive species
• Aggressive species are corrosive materials that can penetrate and brake down
protective surface films or modify the shape of the cathodic polarization curve.
• Ex: chloride ion, sulphur ion
Oxidizing species
• Oxidizing species exhibit mild to severe effects on corrosiveness. Oxidizing
species depolarize corrosion reactions.
To forms of metal deterioration can be
stated:
DIRECT OXIDATION:
Where the metal’s atoms combine with the aggressive
substance:
2Fe +O2 ------2FeO.
ELECTROCHEMICAL CORROSION
• For metals, corrosion process is an electrochemical process
where metal will loose electron(s)
M → Mn+ + ne- oxidation
Fe → Fe2+ + 2e- or Al → Al3+ + 3e-
• The side which oxidation occur anode
• Electron(s) generated from the metal (during oxidation) must
be transferred to form a chemical species.
• Process of gaining electron(s) reduction
2H+ + 2e- → H2
• Reduction occurs at
cathode
Oxidation:
Zn → Zn2+ + 2e-
Acid solution
Reduction
2H+ + 2e- → H2 (gas)
Standard EMF Series
more cathodic Au •EMF series is gathered by
Cu
coupling a standard half cell
Pb
of a metal to standard
Sn
hydrogen electrode
Ni
•EMF series give corrosion
Co
Cd
tendencies of metals
Fe
•Those on top …………………>
Cr difficult to oxidise
Zn •Those on bottom …………....>
Al easy to be oxidised
Mg
Na
more anodic
K
FORMS OF CORROSION
• Stress corrosion
Stress & corrosion
• Uniform Attack work together • Erosion-corrosion
Oxidation & reduction at crack tips. Break down of passivating
occur uniformly over layer by erosion (pipe
surface. elbows).
• Selective Leaching • Pitting
Preferred corrosion of Forms Downward propagation
one element/constituent of small pits & holes.
of Fig. 17.17, Callister 7e.
(e.g., Zn from brass (Cu-Zn)).
corrosion (Fig. 17.17 from M.G.
Fontana, Corrosion
• Intergranular Engineering, 3rd ed.,
Corrosion along McGraw-Hill Book
Company, 1986.)
grain boundaries, • Galvanic
often where special Dissimilar metals are
• Crevice Between two
phases exist. pieces of the same metal.
physically joined. The
Rivet holes
g.b. more anodic one
prec.
corrodes.
attacked Fig. 17.15, Callister 7e. (Fig. 17.15 is
zones courtesy LaQue Center for Corrosion
Technology, Inc.)
Fig. 17.18, Callister 7e.
Erosion-corrosion
• Erosion corrosion: acceleration in rate of
corrosion due to relative motion between
corrosive fluid & surface
• Found mostly in piping; especially at bends,
elbows or abrupt change in pipe diameter
where fluids become turbulence or fluid
change direction suddenly
Pitting corrosion
• Localized corrosion attack
• Small pits/holes form
• Oxidation occurs within the pits itself
• A pit must form from detects like
scratches or slight variation in
combination
• Undetected and sudden unexpected
failure
Crevice corrosion
Zn → Zn2+
oxidized
Cu2+ → Cu
reduced
GALVANIC SERIES
ranks of the reactivity of metals/alloys in seawater
Platinum
Gold
Graphite • Galvanic series gives
Titanium the cathodic, anodic
Silver relationship between
316 Stainless Steel metals
Nickel (passive) – E.g in seawater, Zinc is
Copper more active than
Nickel (active) aluminum
Tin
Lead • Series is determined
316 Stainless Steel experimentally for
Iron / Steel every corrosive
Aluminum alloys environment
Cadmium
Zinc
Magnesium
Intergranular corrosion
• Add inhibitors
-- Slow oxidation/reduction reactions by removing reactants
(e.g., remove O2 gas by reacting it w/an inhibitor).
-- Slow oxidation reaction by attaching species to
the surface (e.g., paint it!).
• Cathodic (or sacrificial) protection
-- Attach a more anodic material to the one to be protected.
Corrosion Prevention – Anticorrosion
Treatments
METAL coatings:
• via ELECTROLYSIS: Protective films of metal using the coating as the anode
and the part being coated as the cathode, employing sulphates or cyanides as
an electrolyte. The substance is broken down by applying an electrical voltage
over a controlled period at a controlled current, giving us the desired layer.
Steel parts should be covered with 3-4 alternating layers of Cu, Ni, Cr.
– NICKEL PLATING.
– CHROME PLATING.
– COPPER PLATING.
CATHODIC PROTECTION:
Steel pipes using Mg or Zn. Ships propellers which are made of Cu using
electrodes made of Zn & Mg.