CORROSION

OF PIPES
 INTRODUCTION
 “When a metal, immersed in water
or in an electrolyte , goes into
solution , the
action is known as corrosion”.
 The pipe corrosion may be due to
flowing water [internal corrosion]
or surrounding media [external
corrosion]
& leads to disintegration of
metals. Corrosion is
electrochemical process.
FACTORS THAT ARE
RESPOSIBLE FOR PIPE
CORROSION
1.pH of flowing water
2.Presence of water in surrounding soils and its
pH
3.Composition of pipe material
4.Temperature
5.Oxygen and
6.Soil bacteria
EFFECTS OF CORROSION IN
WATER PIPES

1. Leaks in pipes.
2. Disintegration of pipes.
3. Reduction in carrying capacity.
 Types of Corrosion
1. Galvanic or Bimetallic corrosion.
2. Hydrogenation.
3. Electrolysis.
4. Chemical reaction.
5. Direct oxidation.
6. Biological action
 Galvanic Corrosion

Fe++ 2OH- Fe(OH)2

FERROUS IONS HYDROXYL IONS FERROUS HYDROXIDE
In general Fe++ ions enters into the solution &
combines with OH- ions of water to form
ferrous hydroxide. The Fe(OH)2 reacts with
dissolved oxygen to form ferric hydroxide
[Fe(OH)3]. Ferric hydroxide is in the form of
insoluble red ppt & gets deposited on the pipe
surface. Deposited of ferric hydroxide formed
on the interior surface of pipe is known as
TUBER CULATION & it increases roughness
& of pipes.
2.HYDROGENATION
Since water is mild electrolyte, it
dissociates into H+ & OH- ions will
deposited on the metallic surface
immersed in water . In order to maintain
electrical neutrality in the solution OH -
ions released by the dissociation of water .
This results in pipe corrosion.
3. Electrolytic Corrosion
 4. Chemical reaction
Corrosion may take place due to chemical reaction
when a metal is immersed in an acid. When water
is acidic or when it contains carbon dioxide,
corrosion of pipes takes place
5.Direct oxidation
when metal is exposed to an atmosphere
containing oxygen , it combines with oxygen
to form magnetite (Fe3O4)
6.BIOLOGICAL ACTION
Bacteria that causes corrosion of
ferrous metal are sulphate reduction,
iron consuming bacteria, sulphur
bacteria. Bacterial corrosion can be
prevented by cathodic protection.
CORROSION CONTROL
pipe corrosion may be prevented by
following methods
A. Cathodic protection
B. Proper selection of pipe material
C. Providing protective lining &
coating
D. Quality of water
 A. CATHODIC PROTECTION
It has been observed that if the pipe line acts as
cathode the corrosion of pipe can be minimized
cathodic protection is achieved by connecting the
metal in an electric current to the negative pole of
a DC generators, the positive pole is connected to
anodes buried in the ground. due to such cathodic
protection , electric potential of pipe metal will be
lowered below that of the surrounding & current
will flow surrounding to the pipe. Cathodic
protects retards galvanic & electrolytic corrosion,
hydrogenation & to same extent bacterial
corrosion of metals
B. SELECTING PROPER
PIPE MATERIALS
The pipe material may be so
chosen as to be more
resistant to corrosion.
Certain alloys of iron or
steel with chromium , copper or nickel have
been found to be better than pure iron or steel
C. Protective coatings
The pipe surfaces are coatings of paint, galvanizing
bituminous compounds, cement linings etc. so as to
protect pipe metal from corrosion. Red lead & zinc
pigments are often used for painting exterior surface
of pipe as they offer more resistance to corrosion .
Sometimes 1:2 cement mortar is used as a protective
coating
Quality of Water
The water passing through pipe should be made as less
corrosive as possible. This can be a accomplished by
 Raising the pH of water
 By reducing DO and CO2 content
 By adding some chemical compounds to reduce
‘TuberCulaction’
 Addition of sodium silicate etc.
Theory Question
Q1. Explain types of corrosion in details
Q2. Discuss preventive measures to avoid
corrosion in water pipes.
THANK YOU

BY:
TEJASWINI THALANGE
VAISHNAVI MERGU