Mitigation of stress corrosion cracking of carbon steel exposed to CO-CO₂-H₂O environments through inhibitor addition

Abstract

Purpose

This investigation aims to find the degree of passivation required to completely inhibit the stress corrosion cracking of carbon steel exposed to CO-CO₂-H₂O environments.

Design/methodology/approach

A516 pressure vessel steel was exposed to distilled water with 25 per cent CO and 75 per cent CO₂ at an overall pressure of 800 kPa with the introduction of potassium bichromate as an additional inhibitor. Slow strain-rate tests were performed to evaluate the steel for sensitivity to cracking. Electrochemical characteristics were investigated in parallel in order to determine the extent of passivation required with the addition of the inhibitor.

Findings

Slow strain-rate tests showed that between 100 and 1,000 ppm potassium bichromate was required to completely mitigate cracking with a significant reduction in passivation current densities.

Research limitations/implications

The chosen inhibitor is not ideal for practical applications as an inhibitor, but gave an indication of the passivation required.

Practical implications

The results showed that the added inhibitor might even cause increased sensitivity to cracking in this environment, with significant passivation required for resistance to cracking.

Originality/value

The degree of passivation required for complete resistance of carbon steel in 25 per cent CO-75 per cent CO₂-H₂O.

Citation

Du Toit, M. and Willem Van der Merwe, J. (2013), "Mitigation of stress corrosion cracking of carbon steel exposed to CO-CO₂-H₂O environments through inhibitor addition", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 60 No. 6, pp. 295-300. https://doi.org/10.1108/ACMM-11-2012-1221