Effects of water on the SCC of low carbon steel in ethanolic media
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to determine the effect of water on the SCC of low carbon steel in ethanol in the absence of supporting salts.
Design/methodology/approach
Slow strain rate test was done to determine SCC susceptibility. Fractured samples were examined using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.
Findings
While the results demonstrated that water alone had no effect on the SCC susceptibility of low carbon steel in ethanol, 2.5 volume per cent moisture gave indications of cracking tendencies.
Originality/value
With South Africa and the world over turning to bioethanol and ethanol blended fuels as a means of reducing its carbon foot print, there are concerns over the corrosive nature of ethanol on common engineering metals like low carbon steels.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The support of the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials (CoE-SM) towards this research is hereby acknowledged. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at, are those of the author and not necessarily to be attributed to the CoE-SM.
Citation
Moyo, F. and Van der Merwe, J.W. (2015), "Effects of water on the SCC of low carbon steel in ethanolic media", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 63 No. 1, pp. 9-13. https://doi.org/10.1108/ACMM-07-2014-1413
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
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