Metal Corrosion and the Efficiency of Corrosion Inhibitors in Less Conductive Media

Lukáš Matějovský; Jan Macák; Olga Pleyer; Martin Staš

doi:10.3791/57757

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Method Article

Metal Corrosion and the Efficiency of Corrosion Inhibitors in Less Conductive Media

17.7K views

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DOI:

10.3791/57757

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November 3rd, 2018

Lukáš Matějovský¹ , Jan Macák² , Olga Pleyer¹ , Martin Staš¹

¹Department of Petroleum Technology and Alternative Fuels, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, ²Department of Power Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague

Summary

The testing of processes associated with material corrosion can often be difficult especially in non-aqueous environments. Here, we present different methods for short-term and long-term testing of corrosion behavior of non-aqueous environments such as biofuels, especially those containing bioethanol.

Abstract

Material corrosion can be a limiting factor for different materials in many applications. Thus, it is necessary to better understand corrosion processes, prevent them and minimize the damages associated with them. One of the most important characteristics of corrosion processes is the corrosion rate. The measurement of corrosion rates is often very difficult or even impossible especially in less conductive, non-aqueous environments such as biofuels. Here, we present five different methods for the determination of corrosion rates and the efficiency of anti-corrosion protection in biofuels: (i) a static test, (ii) a dynamic test, (iii) a static test with a reflux cooler and electrochemical measurements (iv) in a two-electrode arrangement and (v) in a three-electrode arrangement. The static test is advantageous due to its low demands on material and instrumental equipment. The dynamic test allows for the testing of corrosion rates of metallic materials at more severe conditions. The static test with a reflux cooler allows for the testing in environments with higher viscosity (e.g., engine oils) at higher temperatures in the presence of oxidation or an inert atmosphere. The electrochemical measurements provide a more comprehensive view on corrosion processes. The presented cell geometries and arrangements (the two-electrode and three-electrode systems) make it possible to perform measurements in biofuel environments without base electrolytes that could have a negative impact on the results and load them with measurement errors. The presented methods make it possible to study the corrosion aggressiveness of an environment, the corrosion resistance of metallic materials, and the efficiency of corrosion inhibitors with representative and reproducible results. The results obtained using these methods can help to understand corrosion processes in more detail to minimize the damages caused by corrosion.

Introduction

Corrosion causes great material and economic damage around the world. It causes considerable material losses due to partial or complete material disintegration. The released particles can be understood as impurities; they can negatively change the composition of the surrounding environment or the functionality of various devices. Also, corrosion can cause negative visual changes of materials. Thus, there is a need to understand corrosion processes in more detail to develop measures to prevent corrosion and minimize its potential risks¹.

Considering environmental issues and the limited fossil fuel reserves, there is a....