Objective 03: Corrosion Mechanisms Flashcards
Uniform (Generalized) Corrosion
Corrosive action that occurs over an entire surface or over a relatively large section of the surface and may occur at a constant rate over that entire area
How does Uniform Corrosion usually appear?
General, uniform thinning of the metal
What are the electrochemical processes that occur during Uniform Corrosion?
There are many microscopic anode and cathode sites on the surface. These sites continuously alternate between anode and cathode behaviour, creating a uniform attack
How quickly does Uniform Corrosion cause failure?
Meta failure may take longer to occur but if the surface becomes rough other forms of corrosion may be encouraged
What makes Uniform Corrosion easier to deal with?
It can often be predicted and its progression is relatively easy to monitor
Why must one be wary of Uniform Corrosion?
It has the potential for the loss of a large amount of metal and the weakening of a large surface area
Localized Corrosion
Aggresive corrosive activity at very localized sites on a metal surface
What factors may cause the localization of attack by Localized Corrosion?
- Inherent properties of the metal or the design
2. Local breakdown of the corrosion protection
What is the electrochemical activity that ocurs during Localized Corrosion?
The anodic site is much smaller than the cathodic site, which results in a very high concentration of ions leaving the anode.
What makes Localized Corrosion harder to deal with?
It is difficult to predict, monitor, and control
What makes Localized Corrosion dangerous?
Only a relatively small amount of metal loss can cause component failure
What is another name for Galvanic Corrosion?
Dissimilar Metal Corrosion
Galvanic Corrosion
The corrosion that occurs when 2 different metals are immersed in a common electrolyte and there is a connection between the 2 metals (either directly or some other solid connection) which allows an electric current to flow
What 3 conditions must exist for Galvanic Corrosion to occur?
- Difference in electrochemical potential between 2 different metals or between locations within a single metal
- The metals must be immersed in the same electrolyte, which provides a path for soluble metal ions to flow between them
- The metals must be mechanically connected in some way to complete an electric circuit and allow current to flow in a complete conducting path
What causes a difference in electrochemical potential between 2 metals or areas of a metal?
Different metals have different electron structures; therefore, they have different electrical potentials and a potential difference exists between them
Why is a difference in electrochemical potential important to Galvanic Corrosion?
Potential difference (in volts) is the driving force that produces electron flow between the metals
What are the 4 factors that affect the rate of Galvanic Corrosion?
- The difference in electrical potential between the 2 materials (proportional)
- The type and concentration of electrolyte
- The distance between the dissimilar materials (inversely potential)
- The ratio of cathode area to anode area (proportional)
Electrochemical Potential (Voltage)
Unique characteristic of each metal that is determined by the metal’s atomic structure and availability of free electrons
How does Electrochemical Potential affect 2 different metals that are connected in a galvanic cell?
The metal with higher potential acts as the cathode and drives current flow from the other metal, which becomes the anode
Electromotive Series
Tables that rank metals in terms of their electrode potentials, in volts
How does the ranking on the Electromotive Series affect corrosion?
Generally, the higher the electrical potential of a metal, the less likely it is to corrode
What is the relationship of the Galvanic Series to the Electromotive Series?
They are almost synonymous and serve the same purpose
Galvanic Series
Ranking of metals, determined experimentally, which indicates the relative position of each metal in terms of nobility, where the more noble metal is less likely to corrode
How does one determine the rate of corrosion for metals on the Galvanic Series?
Roughly, the further apart 2 metals are, the greater the potential current and therefore the rate of corrosion
What is the Galvanic Series for common industrial metals from anodic to cathodic in which the electrolyte is salt water?
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Aluminum
- Mild Steel
- Cast Iron
- Lead
- Tin
- Copper
- Bronze
- Bass
- Stainless Steel
- Titanium
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What factor determines the galvanic position for alloyed metals?
The percentage of more noble and less noble metals in the alloy
Concentration Cell Corrosion
Localized and often very aggressive corrosion that occurs when the electrolyte in a corrosion cell becomes more concentrated at one location on a metal surface than in the adjacent environment. The more concentrated cell usually becomes anodic, while the surrounding area becomes cathodic and if the anodic area is small, rapid corrosion in the crevice is promoted.
How can concentration differences occur for Concentration Cell Corrosion?
Any small irregularity in the surface where the electrolyte is stagnant, e.g. in a crevice or under a deposit
What is the most common form of Concentration Cell Corrosion?
Crevice Corrosion
How does Crevice Corrosion work?
Any crevice in the metal interface provides a location for a corrosion cell to concentrate. The micro-environment within the crevice may develop corrosion-enhancing characteristics that differ from the surroundings.
What are 4 corrosion-enhancing characteristics that may develop in a crevice to encourage Crevice Corrosion?
- Loss of Corrosion Inhibitor
- Oxygen Depletion
- Increased Acidity
- Accumulation of more aggressive corrosion products
Why is oxygen depletion corrosion-enhancing?
Since oxygen is an active participant in the cathodic reaction in many environments, the loss of oxygen in a crevice means that the normal cathodic oxygen-reduction reaction of the electrolyte cannot occur.
How does Under-Deposit Corrosion occur?
When a deposit is allowed to accumulate on the surface of metal, the interface between the metal and the electrolyte is interrupted and the surface can develop a concentration cell below the deposit.
How can Under-Deposit Corrosion occur in a boiler tube?
Water in the boiler tube travels through tiny pores in the deposit and reaches the tube surface where it boils. The created steam migrates back out through channels in the deposit but leaves behind concentrated corrosive products in a concentration cell within and beneath the deposit.
What are 2 forms of Concentration Cell Corrosion?
- Crevice Corrosion
2. Under-Deposit Corrosion
Pitting
A form of localized corrosion that is characterized be small cavities in the metal surface, with each cavity a separate, localized corrosion site that tends to propagate into the depth of the metal, rather than spreading out over any width.
How easily visible is pitting?
Pits may be open and easily detected by visual inspection or they may be ‘hidden’ beneath a semi-permeable layer of corrosion products
How does Pitting work?
A tiny irregularity in the metal surface becomes anodic and interacts electrochemically with the surrounding electrolyte. In some cases, the pit becomes covered by a film of corrosion products, which deprives it even more of oxygen, promoting further corrosion. In any case, the pit continues to grow.
Oxygen Pitting
A form of pitting that occurs when free oxygen becomes attached to the metal surface
How does Oxygen Pitting work?
- When a surface comes in contact with attached oxygen, it becomes cathodic while the adjacent surfaces becomes anodic.
- Corrosion products accumulate and eventually enclose the bubble of oxygen, thereby exhausting it
- The area under the corrosion cap reverts to an anode
- Corrosion continues as a concentration cell
Deposition Pitting Corrosion
Pitting that occurs due to the deposition of one type of metal unto another
How does Deposition Corrosion work?
- A fluid passing through a pipe may absorb metal ions from the pipe material
- When the fluid then flows to a location where the metal is different and more anodic, the absorbed ions may be deposited onto the surface at this new location (i.e. plating)
- Microscopic, galvanic action occurs, causing pitting of the anodic material
What are 5 conditions that promote Pitting?
- Small, local damage to the protective oxide film on the metal surface
- Small, local damage to an applied protective coating
- Small irregularities, during manufacture, in the metal itself
- Free oxygen at the metal surface
- Microscopic areas of Galvanic Action
Selective Leaching/Dealloying
Corrosion of one element in an alloy, thereby making the alloy weaker, brittle, and porous
What is a common example of Selective Leaching?
Dezincification of Brass
What are 2 forms of Pitting Corrosion?
- Oxygen Pitting
2. Deposition Corrosion
Hydrogen Induced Corrosion
Corrosion mechanism that is directly related to the presence of hydrogen at the surface of a metal
What are 3 types of Hydrogen Induced Corrosion?
- Hydrogen Embrittlement
- Hydrogen Blistering
- Hydrogen Stress Cracking
How does Hydrogen Embrittlement work?
- When the concentration of hydrogen, as by-product of corrosion, increases at the surface of steel, some of the hydrogen atoms may diffuse into the steel.
- The hydrogen collects between the metal atoms and distorts their natural structure
What is the effect of Hydrogen Embrittlement on steel?
The steel has a reduced ability to deform elastically, causing a loss of ductility and an increase in the brittleness of the steel, which can lead to fracture of the metal
How does Hydrogen Blistering work?
- Hydrogen atoms diffuse into the interior of steel
- Atomic hydrogen collects at voids inside the steel
- The atoms bond together to form molecular hydrogen
- The molecules become too large to migrate out of the steel and become trapped
- More hydrogen molecules accumulate to the point where internal pressure increases