Index :

Introduction 5

Methods of Prevention of Corrosion. 6-9

Aim of the project 10

Requirement 10

Procedure.. 11

Conclusion. 12

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Introduction:

Metals and alloys undergo rusting

and corrosion. The process by which
some metals when exposed to
atmospheric condition i.e., moist air,
carbon dioxide form undesirable
compounds on the surface is known as corrosion, the compounds
formed are usually oxides. Rusting is also a type of corrosion but the
term is restricted to iron or products made from it. Iron is easily prone
to rusting making its surface rough. Chemically, rust is a hydrated ferric
oxide Fe2O3.nH2O. Rusting may be explained by an electrochemical
mechanism. In the presence of moist air containing dissolved oxygen
or carbon dioxide, the commercial iron behaves as if composed of small
electrical cells. At anode of a cell, iron passes into solution as ferrous
ions.
Fe Fe2+ + 2 e
The electron moves towards the cathode and form hydroxyl ions.
H O (O) +2e- 2OH
2 +
Under the influence of dissolved oxygen the ferrous ions and
hydroxyl ions interact to form rust, i.e., hydrated ferric oxide.
2Fe2+ + H2O + (O) 2Fe3+ + 2OH
2Fe3+ + 6OH- Fe2O3.3H2O or 2Fe(OH)3
(Rust)

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 Methods of Prevention of Corrosion and
Rusting

Corrosion is a serious problem of some metals

like iron, zinc, aluminium and alloys like brass
which are commonly used in day to day life.
Apart from reducing the life of articles made up
of these metals or alloys the chemical substances
formed out of corrosion have serious public
health problems. Replacement of machines or
their parts and many other articles in industrial and public dealing
lead to huge expenditure.
Some of the methods used to prevent corrosion and rusting are
discussed here:
1) Barrier Protection:
In the method, a barrier film is introduced between iron surface and
atmospheric air. The film is
obtained by painting, varnishing
etc.

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2) Galvanization:

The metallic iron is covered by a

layer of more reactive metal such as
zinc. The active metal losses
electrons in preference of iron. Thus,
protecting from rusting and corrosion.

3) Coatings and Painting:

Rust formation can be controlled with

coatings, such as paint, lacquer, or varnish
that isolate the iron from the environment.
Large structures with enclosed box sections,
such as ships and modern automobiles, often
have a wax-based product (technically a
"slushing oil") injected into these sections.
Such treatments usually also contain rust inhibitors. Covering steel
with concrete can provide some protection to steel because of the
alkaline pH environment at the steel-concrete interface. However
rusting of steel in concrete can still be a problem, as expanding rust can
fracture or slowly "explode" concrete from within.

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4) Rust-Resistant Alloys:

Stainless steel forms a passivation layer of

chromium (III) oxide. Similar passivation
behavior also readily occurs with
magnesium, titanium, zinc, zinc
oxides,aluminium, polyaniline, and other
electroactive conductive polymers.
Special "weathering steel" alloys such as Cor-Ten rust at a much
slower rate than normal, because the rust adheres to the surface of the
metal in a protective layer. Designs using this material must include
measures that avoid worst-case exposures, since the material still
continues to rust slowly even under near-ideal conditions.

5) Electroplating:
Electroplating is a
process that uses
electric current to
reduce dissolved metal
cations so that they
form a coherent metal
coating on an electrode.
The term is also used for
electrical oxidation of

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anions onto a solid substrate, as in the formation silver chloride on
silver wire to make silver/silver-chloride electrodes. Electroplating is
primarily used to change the surface properties of an object (e.g.
abrasion and wear resistance, corrosion protection, lubricity, aesthetic
qualities, etc.), but may also be used to build up thickness on undersized
parts or to form objects by electroforming.

5.1) Copper plating:

Copper plating is the process in

which a layer of copper is deposited
on the item to be plated by using an
electric current.

5.2) Silver plating:

Silver plating is used to improve
solderability by hardening the surface and
increasing wear-ability. It is also
used to inhibit corrosion. The
plating helps in reducing friction and to
improve paint adhesion. It is good for altering conductivity and
provides a shield against radiation.

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Aim:

The aim of this project is to investigate the effect of the metal

coupling on the rusting of iron. Metal coupling affects the rusting of
iron. If the iron nail is coupled with a more electro-positive metal like
zinc, magnesium or aluminium rusting is prevented but if on the other
hand, it is coupled with less electro positive metal like copper, the
rusting is facilated.

Materials Required:

1) Two Petri dishes 8) Copper, zinc & magnesium strips

2) Four test tube 9) Potassium ferricyanide solution

3) Four iron nails 10) Phenolphthalein.

4) Beaker

5) Sand paper

6) Wire gauge

7) Gelatin

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Procedure:

1) At first we have to clean the surface of iron nails with the help of
sand paper.

2) After that we have to wind zinc strip

around one nail, a clean copper wire
around the second & clean magnesium
strip around the third nail. Then to put
all these three and a fourth nail in Petri
dishes so that they are not in contact
with each other.

3) Then to fill the Petri dishes with hot agar agar solution in such a way
that only lower half of the nails are covered with the liquids .Covered
Petri dishes for one day or so.

4) The liquids set to a gel on cooling. Two types of patches are

observed around the rusted nail, one is blue and the other pink. Blue
patch is due to the formation of potassium ferro-ferricyanide where
pink patch is due to the formation of hydroxyl ions which turns
colourless phenolphthalein to pink.

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Conclusion:

It is clear from the observation that coupling of iron with more

electropositive metals such as zinc and magnesium resists corrosion
and rusting of iron. Coupling of iron with less electropositive metals
such as copper increases rusting.

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