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Research into the corrosion behavior of carbon steel in simulated reverse osmosis product water and seawater using a wire beam electrode

Min Zhang (Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Energy, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai, China.)
Hong-Hua Ge (Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Energy, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai, China.)
Xue-Juan Wang (Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Energy, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai, China.)
Xin-Jing Meng (Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Energy, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai, China.)
Yu-Zeng Zhao (Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Energy, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai, China.)
Qiang-Qiang Liao (Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Energy, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai, China.)

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials

ISSN: 0003-5599

Article publication date: 5 May 2015

230

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in the corrosion behavior of carbon steel in simulated reverse osmosis (RO) product water, and in seawater.

Design/methodology/approach

The wire beam electrodes (WBE) and coupons made from Type Q235 carbon steel and were immersed in simulated reverse osmosis product water, and in seawater, for fifteen days. The corrosion potential distribution on the WBE at different times was measured. The corrosion rates of the carbon steel in different solutions were obtained using weight loss determinations. The different corrosion behavior of carbon steel in the two kinds of solution was analyzed.

Findings

The results showed that the average corrosion potential, micro-cathode potential and micro-anode potential of the WBE decreased with time in simulated RO product water. During this period, the maximum potential difference between micro-cathodes and micro-anodes on the WBE surface also decreased with time. The potential difference was more than 260mV at the beginning of the test and was still greater than 110mV after fifteen days of immersion. The positions of cathodes and anodes remained basically unchanged and corrosion took place on the localized anode during the experiments. The average corrosion potential, micro-cathode potential and micro-anode potential on the WBE surface also decreased with time in the simulated seawater. However, the maximum potential difference between micro-cathode and micro-anode on the WBE surface in the simulated seawater was much smaller than was the case in simulated RO product water. It was 37.8 mV at the beginning of the test and was no more than 12mV after two days immersion. The positions of cathode region and anode kept changing, leading to overall uniform corrosion. The actual corrosion rate on the corroded anode region in simulated RO product water was greater than was the case in simulated seawater.

Originality/value

The corrosion behavior differences of carbon steel between in RO product water and in seawater were revealed by using wire beam electrodes (WBE). From the micro point of view, it explained the reason why the actual corrosion rate of carbon steel in RO product water was greater than that in sea water. The results can be helpful to explore future corrosion control methods for carbon steel in RO product water.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work is financially supported by the Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology, China (Grant No. 10DZ2210400 and 11DZ2210500) and Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, China (Grant No. 12ZZ173).

Citation

Zhang, M., Ge, H.-H., Wang, X.-J., Meng, X.-J., Zhao, Y.-Z. and Liao, Q.-Q. (2015), "Research into the corrosion behavior of carbon steel in simulated reverse osmosis product water and seawater using a wire beam electrode", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 62 No. 3, pp. 176-181. https://doi.org/10.1108/ACMM-01-2015-1496

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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