CORROSION & IGC

Wahyudin
CORROSION NEVER SLEEP
SLOW BUT SURE
Oxygen corrosion
Heterogeneities in metals
1. Atomic (as classified by Ehrlich and Turnbull)
(a) Sites within a given surface layer (‘normal’ sites); these vary according to the particular
crystal plane.
(b) Sites at edges of partially complete layers.
(c) Point defects in the surface layer: vacancies (molecules missing in surface layer), kink
sites (molecules missing at edge of layer), molecules adsorbed on top of complete layer.
(d) Disordered molecules at point of emergence of dislocations (screw or edge) in metal
surface.
2. Microscopic
(a) Grain boundaries-usually, but not invariably. more reactive than grain interior.
(b) Phases-metallic (single metals, solid solutions. intermetallic compounds), nonmetallic,
metal compounds. impurities, etc. - heterogeneities due to thermal or mechanical causes.
3. Macroscopic
(a) Grain boundaries.
(b) Discontinuities on metal surface- cut edges, scratches, discontinuities in oxide films (or
other chemical films) or in applied metallic or non-metallic coatings.
(c) Bimetallic couples of dissimilar metals.
(d) Geometrical factors-general design, crevices, contact with non-metallic materials. etc