Effect of Crevice Size on Crevice Corrosion of N80 Carbon Steel in CO2-Saturated NaCl-HAc Solution

Abstract

The effect of crevice size on the crevice corrosion of N80 carbon steel was investigated by electrochemical measurements and surface analysis in a CO2-saturated NaCl-HAc solution. The N80 carbon steel exhibits a high susceptibility to crevice corrosion in this environment, which can be initiated immediately without an induction period for specimens with crevice sizes of 100 μm, 300 μm, and 500 μm. Typically, crevice solutions become more acidic during crevice corrosion; however, in this study, the crevice solution became alkaline, resulting in galvanic corrosion between the inner and outer steel surfaces and leading to severe crevice corrosion. The pH levels of the crevice solution for specimens with 100 μm and 300 μm crevice sizes are similar, but both are notably higher than that of the specimen with a 500 μm crevice size. As a result, there is no significant difference in the crevice corrosion phenomenon between specimens with 100 μm and 300 μm crevice sizes, but it is more severe than in the specimen with a 500 μm crevice size.