Ralph Bäßler

Electrochemical studies on pitting corrosion on Cr13 steel exposed to CO2 and artificial brine with high chloride concentration

Within the project COORAL (German acronym for “CO2 purity for capture and storage”) first studies on piping steels exposed to CO2 and artificial brine with high chloride concentration have been carried out. Corrosion behavior of martensitic Cr13 steel (1.4034) was investigated in a corrosive environment (artificial saline brine, T = 60 °C, CO2-flow rate 3 – 5 L/h, atmospheric pressure, exposure times from 1 h up to 14 days) using electrochemical and metallographic techniques. Different corrosion kinetics were observed as a function of exposure times and chloride concentration in the artificial brine. In CO2-saturated brine pitting corrosion was observed at free corrosion potential, whereas in the brine without addition of NaCl a stable passive layer built up. Predictions about corrosion mechanism are made and verified by means of surface analytical techniques.

Aging of passive film on UNS N08031 in a Green-Death solution

ABSTRACT Aging of passive film formed on UNS N08031 was investigated as a function of passivation time in Green-Death solution at 40°C. The specimen surface was in a stable passive state in the solution. The passive current density increased with an increase in the passivation potential. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Mott–Schottky (M–S) analyses revealed that a more defective n-type semiconductive passive film formed as the potential increased while the film became stable as the defects in the film decreased at potential lower than 1.0 VSSE. The increase of the applied potential and the polarisation time are likely reasons for the change in passive film stability.