Types of Mild Steel Tube Corrosion

Carbon steel pipe, with their good plasticity, strength and welding performance, have become the preferred material for industrial pipelines. As one of the carbon steel pipes, what are the main types of corrosion faced by mild steel tube? Corrosion is the process in which the material reacts chemically with the surrounding environment and gradually loses its original function. However, both the external environment and internal factors of the pipeline may cause corrosion of mild steel tubes, thereby affecting their overall performance.

Main types of corrosion faced

1. Electrochemical corrosion

When ms tubes are in a humid environment or in contact with electrolytes, electrochemical corrosion becomes a major threat. This type of corrosion involves the transfer of electrons between metals and electrolytes, resulting in damage to the metal surface. Pipes made of the seamless pipe is particularly susceptible to this type of corrosion in soil, seawater, and water environments containing chloride ions.

2. Chemical corrosion

Another challenge is chemical corrosion, which occurs when metals are in direct contact with certain chemicals. Strong acids, strong bases, or high-temperature oxidizing media accelerate the chemical corrosion of mild steel tubes and cause damage to equipment. In chemical production, some carbon steel pipes that transport chemical raw materials are prone to chemical corrosion. For example, if effective protective measures are not taken for pipelines working in acidic and alkaline environments, the corrosion rate of the pipelines will be significantly accelerated.

3. High temperature corrosion

In high temperature environments, mild steel tubes may also be attacked by high temperature corrosion. This corrosion is caused by chemical reactions between metals and oxygen, sulfides, etc., which will reduce the mechanical properties of the material and may cause safety hazards. For example, in thermal power plants, boiler tube used to transport high-temperature steam are in high temperature environments for a long time and are prone to high-temperature corrosion, affecting their service life and safety.

Effective protective measures

1. Protection against electrochemical corrosion

For electrochemical corrosion, coating protection, cathodic protection or corrosion-resistant alloys can be used. Coating protection isolates electrolytes by forming a physical barrier on the metal surface, while cathodic protection uses electrochemical principles to inhibit corrosion reactions. For example, on some outdoor oil and gas pipelines, the use of anti-corrosion coatings in conjunction with cathodic protection systems can effectively reduce the probability of electrochemical corrosion.

2. Strategies for dealing with chemical corrosion

For mild steel tubes that may be exposed to highly corrosive media, materials with better corrosion resistance, such as stainless steel or alloy steel, should be selected. At the same time, adjusting medium parameters and using chemical inhibitors are also effective means of protection. In chemical production, for some pipelines that transport acidic or alkaline media, the corrosion rate of the pipeline can be slowed down by adding an appropriate amount of chemical inhibitors. For example, in the pipelines of some pickling workshops, adding corrosion inhibitors can effectively protect the pipelines from corrosion by acidic media.

3. Prevention of high-temperature corrosion

In high-temperature environments, alloy steel or coatings with high-temperature oxidation resistance need to be selected to protect mild steel tubes. In addition, controlling the furnace atmosphere and regular corrosion monitoring are also key links to ensure the safe operation of equipment.

Summary

In summary, for different types of corrosion problems, corresponding protective measures should be taken to extend the service life of mild steel tubes and ensure the safe operation of equipment.

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