Corrosion Engineering

Lecture 4
CHE 311
pH Calculation
 The acidity and alkalinity of a solution is related to the concentration of pH
 The pH is simply a statement of the H+ concentration in the solution and is defined
by the formula: pH= - log [H+].
pH Calculation
  
Example 1: Calculate pH of a solution prepared by dissolving 1.0 g NaOH in water
to make 1.0 L of solution?
 Mwt of NaOH = 40 g/gmol
 # mols (n) = 1/40 = 0.025 moles
 Molarity (M) = N/1 lit = 0.025/ 1 = 0.025 M OH-
 pOH = - log [OH-] = 1.6
 pOH + pH = 14
 pH = 14 – 1.6 = 12.4
pH Calculation
  Example 2: Calculate pH of a 3.5 % ionized 0.025 M NaOH solution?
 [OH-] = 0.035 * 0.025 M OH- = 0.000875
 pOH = - log [OH-] = 3.05
 pOH + pH = 14
 pH = 14 – 3.05 = 10.94
Corrosion Cells
 There are four main types of corrosion cells that can take part in corrosion
reactions. These cells are:

 1. Galvanic cell (Dissimilar electrode cell)

 2. Differential aeration cell
 3. Concentration cell
 4. Differential temperature cell
Galvanic cell (Dissimilar electrode cell)
Galvanic cell (Dissimilar electrode cell)
 The galvanic cell may have an anode and a cathode of dissimilar
metals in the same electrolyte or the same metal in dissimilar
conditions in the same electrolyte. The figure represents galvanic cells
composed of two the dissimilar metals.

Cation

Anion

Galvanic cell, composed of two dissimilar electrodes in the same solution.

 Galvanic cell (Dissimilar electrode cell)

 Galvanic cell, composed steel and

zinc in the same solution.
 Steel electrode is more noble
(cathode) than zinc, the more
active (anode). Zinc will corrode
and current will flow from cathode
(Fe) to anode (Zn) through the
metallic conductor and ionic
current through the electrolyte
from anode to cathode. Notice the
polarity of each electrode.
Galvanic cell (Dissimilar electrode cell)
 Galvanic cell, composed copper
and steel in the same solution
 Copper electrode is more noble
(cathode) than steel, the more
active (anode). Steel will corrode
and current will flow from
cathode (Cu) to anode (Fe)
through the metallic conductor
and ionic current through the
electrolyte from anode to
cathode. Notice the polarity of
each electrode
Galvanic cell (Dissimilar electrode cell)
 Galvanic corrosion by two dissimilar metals: copper pipe connected to a
steel pipe
Galvanic cell (Dissimilar electrode cell)
 Galvanic corrosion by two dissimilar metals: Bronze valve connected to a
steel pipe.
Galvanic cell (Dissimilar electrode cell)
 Galvanic corrosion of new steel pipe section connected to old steel pipe
section.
Differential aeration cell
 The figure presents a typical differential
aeration cell. It includes two similar
electrodes in same solution; the solution
around one electrode is abundant with
oxygen or air (cathode), and the other
having less oxygen or air (anode). The
difference in the oxygen concentration
produces a potential difference and causes
current to flow.
 A practical presentation of this type of cell
is a pipeline of which one section is under a
concrete and the other section is under soil.
 This type of cell accounts for pronounced
damage at crevices, under deposits,
underground pipes with variation of amount
of oxygen in soils.
Differential aeration cell
 One section of a steel pipe is under
concrete (less O2) and the other section is
under soil (more O2). The section under
concrete is the anode and the section
under the soil is the cathode.
 Current will flow through the soil from the
anode to the cathode. Current will flow
from the cathode to the anode through the
interface between the two sections.

Carbon steel pipeline – one

portion is under concrete and
the second portion is under soil.
Salt concentration cell
 Figure presents a typical salt concentration
cell. It includes two similar electrodes.
One electrode is exposed to a
concentrated solution and the second one
is exposed to dilute solution. The electrode
in the dilute solution is the anode and will
corrode and the one which is exposed to
the concentrated solution is the cathode.
Salt concentration cell
 Salt concentration cells are commonly observed in underground
structures such as buried pipelines and vessels. Examples:
 1. A buried pipelines with one section passing through mud and the
other one passing through loam or water.
 2. A buried pipelines passing through soil with different moisture
content.
 3. A buried pipelines passing through soil with different chemical
compositions
Salt concentration cell
 A practical presentation of this type of cell is a pipeline of which one section is
exposed to soil with low concentration of salt and the other section is under soil
with high concentration of salt.
 This type of cell accounts for pronounced damage at crevices, under deposits,
underground pipes with variation of amount of oxygen in soils.
 The inequality of the corrosive species in the environment causes a potential
difference which creates anodic and cathodic areas on exposed structure.
 The figure illustrates a real case for the salt concentration cell
Differential temperature cell
 The figure presents a typical differential
temperature cell. It includes two similar
electrodes. One electrode is exposed to
cold fluid and the second one is exposed to
hot fluid. The electrode in the hot solution
is the anode and will corrode and the one
which is exposed to cold solution is the
cathode.

 Differential temperature cells are

commonly observed in crude oil wells,
furnaces, heaters, boilers, pipelines
transferring hot gases, chemical reactors,
nuclear plants, heat transfer equipments.
Differential temperature cell
 Real cases for the differential temperature cell
 The difference in temperature of the environment causes a potential difference
which creates anodic and cathodic areas on the exposed structure.
Differential temperature cell
 The difference in temperature of the environment causes a potential difference
which creates anodic and cathodic areas on the exposed structure.