KOLEJ WIT

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

QUESTION ANSWERS MARKS

Q4(a) 8 Marks
CORROSION
 The destruction of a material by a chemical or electrochemical process
through interaction with its environment.
 Typically this is a transfer of electrons from one metal to another which is an
oxidation-reduction reaction.
 The corrosion of a metal is a chemical process by which the metal is oxidized.

METHODS OF CONTROL AND PREVENTION FOR ENGINEERS

Several measures may be taken to prevent, or at least reduce, corrosion. These
include material selection, environmental alteration, the use of inhibitors, design
changes, application of coatings, and cathodic protection.

Q4(b) ANSWER ANY FOUR (4) FROM THE LIST BELOW 12 Marks
There are 8 common forms of corrosion:
Uniform (rust), Galvanic, Crevice , Pitting, Intergranular, Selective Leaching,
Erosion-Corrosion, Stress Corrosion

Uniform (rust)
Oxidation-Reduction reactions occur randomly over entire exposed surface

Galvanic Corrosion
 Occurs when two metals or alloys with dissimilar compositions are electrically
coupled while exposed to the same electrolyte.
Typically in marine environments.
 The more inert metal is protected from corrosion while the more reactive
metal will degrade.

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KOLEJ WIT
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Pitting and Crevice Corrosion

 Both are forms of localized corrosion.
 Occur from concentration differences of ions forming a concentration cell.
 Oxidation occurs within the pit or space between two metals.
 Insidious form of corrosion because it can go undetected with little material
loss until failure occurs.

Intergranular Corrosion
 Corrosion occurs preferentially along grain boundaries for some alloys in
specific environments.
 Also known as weld decay.
 Specific to stainless steels where heat treatment allows the formation of
small precipitate particles that form along grain boundaries.
 This leaves a chromium depleted zone that is highly susceptible to corrosion.

Selective Leaching
Occurs when one element is preferentially removed from an alloy during the
corrosion process. • This leaves behind a porous and weak material susceptible to
failure. • Example: The dezincification of Brass. Zinc is selectively leached from
the alloy and leaves behind the reddish copper in the region bereft of Zinc.

Erosion-Corrosion

 Occurs because of chemical reactions combined with mechanical wear from

abrasive fluids in motion.
 Commonly found in pipes and especially around bends and elbows or where
there are changes in pipe diameter.
 Increased fluid velocity = increased corrosion rate.

Stress Corrosion
Cracks grow perpendicular to grain boundaries because of applied tensile
stresses combined with a corrosive environment.

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