CHM578/674 2020
Experiment 3: Corrosion Rate (Weight Loss Method) (20 marks)
Name: HANI NADHIRAH BINTI HASRI ID: 2019268718 Group:
AS222 4M2
(Refer Lab manual Exp. 3 CHM674 prior to answering the following Post-Lab
Questions)
Objectives
a) To study the corrosion of steel in two different acid solutions.
b) To study the corrosion resistant efficiency of steel alloy (ie: stainless steel).
Background:
Steel will corrode when exposed to acid solutions. Electrochemical reactions involved for
steel in two different acids are as follows:
Anodic reaction:
Fe → Fe2+ + 2e Eo = -0.44 V
Cathodic Reaction:
NO - + 4H+ + 3e ↔ NO + 2H O Eo = +0.96 V
3 2
SO 2-
4
+ 4H+ + 2e ↔ SO2 + 2H2O Eo = +0.17 V
The simplest, and longest-established method of estimating corrosion losses in plant and
equipment is weight loss analysis. A weighed sample (coupon) of the metal or alloy under
consideration is introduced into the process, and later removed after a reasonable time
interval. The coupon is then cleaned of all corrosion product and is reweighed. The weight
loss is converted to a corrosion rate (CR) as follows:
Density: steel = 7.86 g/cm3 , Stainless Steel = 7.0 g/cm3 , Exposed Area : 2 x 2 x 2 = 8 cm2, K–
factor (corrosion rate in mm/yr) = 8.76 x 104
Procedure:
All metal specimens (steel and stainless steel) must be in the same size. All the metal
specimens were polished with emery paper to remove all dusts and impurities and then rinsed
with alcohol. 12 vials or containers were labeled as S1(a)- (c), S2(a) – (c), SS1(a) – (c) and
SS2(a) – (c).
All the metal specimens were weighed prior to immersion in acidic solution using a 4-
decimal analytical balance. Each of the specimen was put into the right labelled container
containing the right acidic solution as in the report table. All samples were taken out after 1
hour; and dried before re-weighing.
The corrosion resistance efficiency of stainless steel is calculated using the following
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CHM578/674 2020
equation: Corrosion Protection/Resistance Efficiency (η%) = CR steel - CR stainless
steel x 100
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CHM578/674 2020
CR steel
Results (4 marks)
1. Immersion of Steel in 1M H2SO4 for 1 hour
Metal specimen Weight before immersion (g) Weight after immersion (g)
S1(a) 3.0570 3.0250
S1(b) 3.0621 3.0301
S1(c) 3.0562 3.0254
Observation: All solutions turned to cloudy with a lot of bubbles formed on the steel surface.
0.032+0.032+0.031
Average weight loss (WL): = 0.032 g
3
2. Immersion of Steel in 1M HNO3 for 1 hour
Metal specimen Weight before immersion (g) Weight after immersion (g)
S 2(a) 3.0560 2.8592
S 2(b) 3.0630 2.8707
S 2(c) 3.0521 2.8668
Observation : All solutions turned to green-black solution, a lot of bubbles evolved.
0.197+0.192+0.185
Average weight loss (WL): = 0.191 g
3
3. Immersion of Stainless Steel in 1M H2SO4 for 1 hour
Metal specimen Weight before immersion (g) Weight after immersion (g)
SS 1(a) 3.0156 3.0155
SS 1(b) 3.0293 3.0290
SS 1(c) 3.0179 3.0170
Observation: No changes in the solution and on the surface of specimen.
Average weight loss (WL): 0.0001+0.0003+0.0009
= 0.0004g
3
4. Immersion of Stainless Steel in 1M HNO3 for 1 hour
Metal specimen Weight before immersion (g) Weight after immersion (g)
SS 2(a) 2.9980 2.9978
SS 2(b) 3.0188 3.0178
SS 2(c) 3.0298 3.0290
Observation: No changes in the solution and on the surface of specimen.
Average weight loss (WL): 0.0002+0.0010+.0008
= 0.0007 g
3
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CHM578/674 2020
Post- Laboratory Questions (16 marks) :
1. Calculate the corrosion rate of steel and stainless steel in both acids for 1 hour.
Exposed Area : 8 cm2
Corrosion rate (mm/yr) of steel in 1M H2SO4:
4
𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 (𝐶𝑅) = (0.032𝑔×8.76×10 )
7.86𝑔
()×8𝑐𝑚
𝑐𝑚3 ×1ℎ𝑟2
6
= 44.58𝑐𝑚 × 10𝑚𝑚 × 24ℎ𝑟 × 365𝑑𝑎𝑦 = 3.905×10 𝑚𝑚
ℎ𝑟 𝑐𝑚1𝑑𝑎𝑦1𝑦𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟
Corrosion rate (mm/yr) of steel in 1M HNO3:
4
𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 (𝐶𝑅) = (0.191𝑔×8.76×10 )
7.86𝑔
()×8𝑐𝑚
𝑐𝑚3 ×1ℎ𝑟2
6
= 266.09𝑐𝑚 × 10𝑚𝑚 × 24ℎ𝑟 × 365𝑑𝑎𝑦 = 23.31×10 𝑚𝑚
ℎ𝑟 𝑐𝑚1𝑑𝑎𝑦1𝑦𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟
Corrosion rate (mm/yr) of stainless steel in 1M H2SO4:
4
𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 (𝐶𝑅) = (0.0004𝑔×8.76×10 )
(7.86𝑔)×8𝑐𝑚2×1ℎ𝑟
𝑐𝑚3
4
= 0.557𝑐𝑚 × 10𝑚𝑚 × 24ℎ𝑟 × 365𝑑𝑎𝑦 = 4.879×10 𝑚𝑚
ℎ𝑟 𝑐𝑚1𝑑𝑎𝑦1𝑦𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟
Corrosion rate (mm/yr) of stainless steel in 1M HNO3:
4
𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 (𝐶𝑅) = (0.0007𝑔×8.76×10 )
(7.86𝑔)×8𝑐𝑚2×1ℎ𝑟
𝑐𝑚3
4
= 0.975𝑐𝑚 × 10𝑚𝑚 × 24ℎ𝑟 × 365𝑑𝑎𝑦 = 8.541×10 𝑚𝑚
ℎ𝑟 𝑐𝑚1𝑑𝑎𝑦1𝑦𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟
2. Why corrosion rate of steel is higher in nitric acid than in sulfuric acid?
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CHM578/674 2020
The corrosion rate of steel is higher in nitric acid than in sulfuric acid because nitric
acid have greater pKa value than sulfuric acid. As the pKa value increases, the
corrosion rate increases.
3. Why corrosion rate of stainless steel is lower than of steel?
The corrosion rate of stainless steel is lower than the steel because it have better
composition since in contains significant proportion of other elements. Other than
that, it is because stainless steel is an alloy which have the tendency of corrosion
resistant.
4. Calculate the corrosion resistance efficiency of the alloy (ie: stainless steel) in nitric
acid.
Answer:
𝐶𝑅 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙 − 𝐶𝑅 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙
𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 (𝜂%) = 𝐶𝑅 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙 × 100%
(23.31 × 106) − (8.541 × 104)
= 23.31 × 106 × 100%
= 99.63%
