TITLE:

CORROSION

NAME: Hamzah Mohammed STUDENT ID#: 03705532 GROUP: M FACAULTY: MECHANICAL DATE PERFORMED: DATE SUBMITTED:

ABSTRACT This experiment contained two stages and therefore possessed two objectives which are; 1) To examine the effect of brine (sodium chloride solution) with or without the presence of oxygen on the corrosion of steel. 2) To examine the effect of internal stresses on the corrosion rate of steel. Procedure 1: Six samples were weighed and placed in 2 beakers containing sodium chloride solution. One of the beakers contained boiled sodium chloride solution while the other contained unboiled solution. Air was then bubbled through the unboiled solution via a compressor while nitrogen was bubbled through the boiled solution via a nitrogen gas tank. Procedure 2: Six other samples were weighed. Three of them were then stressed. The six samples were then placed in an acidic solution of hydrochloric acid after which air was then bubbled through the solution. The four beakers were then left for two hours after which the samples were removed and weighed. The results indicated that for the twelve samples tested, there was a loss of weight for each one.

INTRODUCTION AIM For procedure 1: To compare the effect of corrosion on six samples of steel placed in boiled and un-boiled solutions for a given period of time. For procedure 2: To compare the effect of corrosion on six samples of steel three being stressed and three unstressed. These samples being placed in an acidic solution and bubbled with air for a given period of time.

CORROSION Corrosion is the deterioration loss of a metal as a result of dissolution environmental reactions. The problem of metallic corrosion is one of significant proportions. In economic terms, it has been estimated that approximately 5% of an industrial nations income is spent on corrosion prevention and the maintenance or replacement of products loss or contaminated as a result of corrosion reactions. There are many costs associated with corrosion effects. Forms of corrosion: Uniform, galvanic, crevice, pitting, interrangular, selective-leaching, erosion and stress corrosion. Two of the most common are: 1) Uniform attack Uniform attack is a form of electrochemical corrosion that occurs with equivalent intensity over the entire exposed surface and often leaves behind a scale or deposit.

2) Localised corrosion This type of corrosion is caused by the electrolyte action of a galvanic cell. A local galvanic action is set up when there is a difference of potential between the areas on a metallic surface that is an electrolyte.

The corrosion reaction

When metals corrode the reaction with the environment takes the form of a chemical reaction in which the metal is converted from a metallic element to a compound. Unfortunately, there is a strong tendency for most of our common engineering metals revert back to the form in which they occur in nature. Iron rust is very similar to iron ore. When a metal changes from a neutral element to part of a compound it loses electrons and is said to be oxidized. Fortunately, although the tendency for metals to oxidize can be quite strong, the rate at which this occurs at room temperture is usually quite slow and we can normally expect to obtain a useful engineering life from our metal structures and machines. It is when the rate of oxidation accelerates beyond the norm that we become concerned and this process is called corrosion.

APPARATUS 1) 4 beakers. 2) A balancing scale 3) Brine solution 4) Potassium iodine 5) Air compressor 6) Nitrogen gas supply 7) 12 prepared samples of steel 8) Acidic solution-HCL

PROCEDURE Part 1 of experiment: 1) Six samples of steel were each labelled and then weighed. 2) Three of the samples were then fitted into the lid of one of the beakers while the other three were fitted onto the lid of the other beaker. 3) Two solutions of sodium chloride were prepared. One was then boiled. 4) The solutions were then places into their respective beakers after which their lids were fitted onto the beakers. 5) Air was then bubbled through the un-boiled solution while nitrogen was bubbled through

The boiled solution. 6) The samples were then left and observed for duration of two hours after which the sample were then taken out and reweighed. Part 2 of experiment: 1) Six steel samples were labelled. Three of them were then stressed by scratching their surfaces while the other three were left normal 2) All of the samples were then weighed. 3) The three stressed samples were the fitted onto the lid of one of the beakers, while the other three were fitted onto the lid of the other beaker. 4) An acidic solution was then placed into the two beakers, after which their respective lids were fitted onto them. 5) Air was then bubbled through them for duration of two hours, after which the samples were taken out and reweighed.

RESULTS Table showing the respective masses of samples placed in the boiled solution.

Sample calculation: For sample 1; mass before experiment = 7.7046 grams Mass after experiment = 7.7038 grams Mass before Mass after experiment (g) experiment (g) 7.7046 7.7038 7.3768 7.3500 7.2021 7.2010 Total weight (g) 22.2835 22.2548 Weight loss =7.7046 -7.7038 = .0008 grams. Weight loss (g) .0008 .0268 .00011 .0287

Table showing the respective masses of samples placed in the un-boiled solution Mass before experiment (g) 7.4021 7.5413 7.9607 22.9041 Mass after experiment (g) 7.3809 7.4988 7.9512 22.8309 Weight loss (g) .0212 .0425 .0095 .0732

Total weight (g)

Sample calculation: For sample 1; mass before experiment = 7.4021 grams Mass after experiment = 7.3809 grams Weight loss =7.4021 -7.3809 = .0212 grams.

Table showing the respective masses of samples that were stressed Mass before experiment (g) 7.2609 7.3456 7.4321 22.0386 Mass after experiment (g) 7.1998 7.2786 7.3699 21.8483 Weight loss (g) .0611 .067 .0622 .1903

Total weight (g)

Sample calculation: For sample 1; mass before experiment = 7.2609 grams Mass after experiment = 7.1998 grams Weight loss =7.2609 -7.1998 = .0611 grams. Table showing the respective masses of samples that were unstressed. Mass before experiment (g) 6.5995 7.6564 7.1037 21.3596 Mass after experiment (g) 6.5991 7.6530 7.0613 21.3134 Weight loss (g) .0004 .0034 .0424 .0462

Total weight (g)

Sample calculation: For sample 1; mass before experiment = 6.5995 grams Mass after experiment = 6.5991 grams Weight loss =6.5995 -6.5991 = .0004 grams.

DISCUSSION

By observing the results tabulated, it was seen that for every case, there was a loss of weight of each of the samples tested. It was also seen that the samples that were stressed and placed in the acidic solution lost more weight than those that were not stressed. This is due to the fact that as the molecular structures of the samples were deformed, hence exposing the inner structure to corrosion. Thus it is seen that any sort of stress be it internal or external, increases the rate of corrosion of a metal. This fact is related to structures under internal pressures, for example pipes under pressure from the fluid within. This internal pressure exerted onto the pipe gives rise to the rate of corrosion. The samples that were placed into the brine solution and bubbled with air lost more weight than those that were bubbled with nitrogen. This is due to the fact that air was bubbled through the solution thus introducing more oxygen into the solution. Oxygen therefore increases the rate of corrosion with the presence of brine. Due to this fact, metal structures near to coastal areas are reinforced or corrosion inhibitors are added so as to prevent corrosion.

CONCLUSION From the results tabulated, It was concluded that the boiled solution in which the nitrogen was bubbled through had a weight loss due to corrosion of .0287 grams, while the un-boiled solution in which air was bubbled through had a weight loss of .0372 grams. It was concluded that the boiled solution corroded more than that of the un-boiled solution. The samples that were stressed had a weight loss of .1903 grams, while those that were unstressed had a weight loss of .0462 grams. This suggested that the unstressed samples were corroded far greater than the stressed samples.

REFERENCES (1). The University of the West Indies. Laboratory Manual, CH13A Science of Materials 2003/2004. (2) Materials Science and Engineering. An introduction by William D. Callister, Jr.