Mike Yongjun Tan

An overview of major methods for inspecting and monitoring external corrosion of on-shore transportation pipelines

Abstract Corrosion can occur on underground pipelines especially at coating defects, where metal can be considered directly exposed to the soil, or under disbonded coatings, where the occluded geometry significantly affects the efficiency of cathodic protection (CP). In order to ensure the effectiveness of corrosion mitigation measures such as CP and protective coatings, inspection and monitoring of pipeline corrosion are required. This paper provides an overview of major methods that are used for inspecting and monitoring external corrosion of on-shore pipelines subjected to CP. Particular focus is on discussing the advantages and limitations of major inspection tools that are used to ensure pipeline integrity, and electrochemical corrosion sensors that are designed to monitor pipeline corrosion processes and rates. It is shown that there is a need for expanding the capabilities of corrosion monitoring methods suitable for the pipeline industry.

The Restoration of the Passivity of Stainless Steel Weldments in Pickling Solutions Observed Using Electrochemical and Surface Analytical Methods

In this study, a solution containing ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and nitric acid (HNO3) was used as an alternative to the conventional highly toxic pickling solution HF/HNO3 for pickling weldments of selected stainless steels including Type 316 stainless steel (UNS S31600), duplex stainless steel 2205 (UNS S32205), and super duplex stainless steel 2507 (UNS S32750). Electrochemical and surface analytical methods were used to understand the effects of pickling on the stainless steel weldments. Cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP) test results indicated that the restoration of passivity of stainless steel weldments could be achieved by pickling the weldments in both HF/HNO3 solution and NH4F/HNO3 solutions. Scanning electron microscopy observation of the UNS S32750 weldment surface revealed that both the HF/HNO3 solution and the NH4F/HNO3 solution could remove the heat tint on the weldment. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated that treatment in these two pickling solutions produced passive ...

Localised corrosion of cathodically protected pipeline steel under the effects of cyclic potential transients

ABSTRACT Cathodic protection (CP) may lose its effectiveness for protecting buried steel pipeline from soil corrosion due to the effects of potential excursions caused by stray currents. In this work, dynamic localised corrosion processes of buried steel due to the effects of cyclic potential transients have been visualised using an electrochemically integrated multi-electrode array, often referred to as the wire beam electrode (WBE). The focus has been on the understanding of the effect of cathodic transients. The WBE maps suggest that the amplitude of cathodic transient, as well as the ratio of anodic cyclic to cathodic cyclic, can significantly affect the corrosion rates and patterns. In particular, if the cathodic transient leads to a very negative potential, e.g. −1350 mVvs.CSE, rapid corrosion would occur on buried steel surface. These results have implications for CP parameter selection for preventing stray current-affected buried steel pipelines.

An Array of Multielectrodes for Locating, Visualizing, and Quantifying Stray Current Corrosion

An array of multielectrode corrosion probes, designed based on a series of coupled wire beam electrodes (WBEs), has been devised as a new tool for locating, visualizing, and quantifying the effects...

Enhancing the localised corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel via FBR-CVD chromising treatment

ABSTRACT The resistance of stainless steels to localised corrosion can be adversely affected by environmental and metallurgical heterogeneities existed in complex industrial infrastructures such as seawater desalination plants exposed to aggressive evnironments. It is therefore critical to enhance the localised corrosion resistance and understand the corrosion behaviour of stainless steels in complex and aggressive industrial environmental conditions. In this work, the localised corrosion resistance of chromised stainless steel 316L (SS316L) in simulated seawater desalination systems has been investigated by electrochemical and surface analytical techniques. It has been found that chromising processes have improved the localised corrosion resistance of SS316L by reducing its susceptibility to pitting, crevice, and welding zone corrosion in simulated seawater desalination environments. This increased corrosion resistance has been explained by electrochemical polarisation studies and surface analysis showing that the chromising treatment at 1050°C resulted in a continuous and stable chromium-enriched layer on the SS316L surface.

Effects of high salt concentration and residue on copper and aluminum corrosion

Traditional researches on metal corrosion under salt solutions deposit conditions are usually carried out by visual, electron microscopic observations and simple electrochemical measurement via a traditional one-piece electrode. These techniques have difficulties in measuring localized corrosion that frequently occur in inhomogeneous media. This paper reports the results from the experiments using specially shaped coupons and a relatively new method of measuring heterogeneous electrochemical processes, namely, the wire beam electrode(WBE). Preliminary results from copper and aluminum corrosion in highly concentrated sodium chloride solutions with and without solid deposits show that the method is useful in simulating and studying corrosion especially localized corrosion in pipelines.