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Stability of oxide films formed on mild steel in turbulent flow conditions of alkaline solutions at elevated temperatures

journal contribution
posted on 2001-08-01, 00:00 authored by S Giddey, B Cherry, F Lawson, Maria ForsythMaria Forsyth
In the industries involving alkaline solutions in different process streams, the nature and stability of oxide films formed on the metallic surfaces determine the rates of erosion–corrosion of the equipment. In the present study the characteristics of the oxide films formed on AISI 1020 steel in a 2.75 M sodium hydroxide solution at temperatures up to 175°C, have been investigated by employing electrochemical techniques of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The experiments were carried out in an autoclave system based upon a ‘rotating cylinder electrode’ geometry to determine the effects of turbulence on the stability of the films. The results suggest that little protection is afforded in the active region (at about −0.8 VSHE). In the passive region at low potentials (−0.6 V to −0.4 VSHE), it appears the films are compact and more stable, and therefore provide good protection. At higher potentials (>−0.4 VSHE) in the passive region, the results suggest that film formation and dissolution occur simultaneously and the increase in temperature and turbulence causes a breakdown of the passive film resulting in a situation similar to nonprotective magnetite growth.

History

Journal

Corrosion science

Volume

43

Issue

8

Pagination

1497 - 1517

Publisher

Elsevier

Location

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

ISSN

0010-938X

eISSN

1879-0496

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2001, Elsevier Science