Wells Module ENM201

3. Types of Corrosion
Prepared and Presented by Owen Jenkins.

Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

Topic Overview
In this lecture we shall be considering the
different types of corrosion, their morphology (i.e. what they look like) and we shall start to consider how they occurred.

Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

Types of Corrosion
Fontana identifies eight forms of corrosion (see
Chapter 3 of the vermilion volume):
1.Uniform, or general attack 2.Galvanic, or two-metal corrosion 3.Crevice corrosion 4.Pitting 5.Intergranular corrosion 6.Selective leaching, de-alloying or parting (including graphitisation) 7.Erosion corrosion, and 8.Stress corrosion.
Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

More Types of Corrosion

We could also add loads more, but well
save them for the Materials and Corrosion Module, ENM233

The first eight cover most that you will

need to know about

Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

1. Uniform Corrosion
Uniform, or
general attack

Photo above: KSC Corrosion Lab. Used with permission. Left: OSJL collection.

Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

2. Galvanic Corrosion
Galvanic, or Two-Metal Corrosion
Stainless steel screw causing galvanic corrosion of aluminium

Photo KSC Corrosion Lab. Used with permission Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

3. Crevice Corrosion
Crevice or contact corrosion is the corrosion
produced at the region of contact of metals with metals or metals with non-metals.
Crevice corrosion of Ti flange (below)
KSC Corrosion Lab. Used with permission.

Photo KSC Corrosion Lab. Used with permission Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

4. Pitting

Photos: Above and right: OSJL collection. Top right KSC Corrosion Lab. Used with permission. Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

5. Intergranular Corrosion
Stainless steel
KSC Corrosion Lab. Used with permission.

corroded in the Heat Affected Zone a short distance from the weld. (Weld decay) Heat sensitization Typical of intergranular corrosion in austenitic stainless steels.
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Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

5a. Exfoliation Corrosion.

Exfoliation is
a form of intergranular corrosion.
KSC Corrosion Lab. Used with permission.

KSC Corrosion Lab. Used with permission. Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

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6. Selective Leaching
Selective leaching, De-alloying or Parting A fairly rare form of corrosion found in copper alloys (e.g.
De-alloying occurs when the alloy loses the active component of the metal and retains the more corrosion resistant component in a porous "sponge" on the metal surface. It can also occur by redeposition of the noble component of the alloy on the metal surface.
Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

dezincification of brass) grey cast iron, and some other alloys.

KSC Corrosion Lab. Used with permission.

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6a. Graphitisation
Graphitisation
A form of leaching: the graphitisation of cast irons. In slightly acidic waters both flake graphite (grey) and nodular graphite (ductile) irons are corroded due to the anodic behaviour of the matrix with respect to the cathodic graphite. Ductile iron pipes were once assumed to be immune to graphitisation, but examples from both Ottawa and Toronto clearly show graphitisation in this pipe material. The picture right shows an example of graphitisation in a ductile iron pipe.
Photo: Institute for Research in Construction - National Research Council Canada Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

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6b. De-Nickelification
Cupronickel tubes get their
corrosion resistance by the formation of a passive oxide film on the exposed surface. The stability of this passive film requires that oxygenated water maintain access to the surface. Heavy deposits on the bottom of this tube resulted in stagnant, nonoxygenated water in contact with the cupronickel. Once the de-nickelification is started, it can be self-propagating because access of oxygen to the pit environment is limited.
Photos Copyright Corrosion Testing Laboratories, Inc

Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

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7. Erosion Corrosion
Mechanic
al wear effects or abrasion are usually involved as well.

Erosion corrosion is the acceleration or increase

in rate of deterioration or attack on a metal because of relative movement between a corrosive fluid and the metal surface.

Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

Photos: OSJL collection.

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7. Erosion Corrosion

Copyright Corrosion Testing Laboratories, Inc

Photograph of erosion-corrosion showing

individual teardrop shaped pits with undercutting in the downstream direction.

Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

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7. Erosion Corrosion

Illustrations Copyright Corrosion Testing Laboratories, Inc

Schematic of turbulent eddy mechanism for downstream

undercutting of erosion-corrosion pits.
Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

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8. Stress Corrosion
Stress corrosion
cracking (SCC) is caused by the simultaneous effects of tensile stress and a specific corrosive environment. to applied loads, residual stresses from the manufacturing process, or a combination of both.
Photo KSC Corrosion Lab. Used with permission.

Stresses may be due

n n

Cross sections of SCC frequently show branched cracks. This river branching pattern is unique to SCC and is used in failure analysis to identify when this form of corrosion has occurred.
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Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

8. Stress Corrosion
The microscopic intergranular
SCC of an aluminium aerospace part The intergranular nature of the corrosion can be seen in the scanning electron microscope image (lower)and in the cross section (upper) The arrows indicate the primary crack shown in both pictures. Note that secondary cracks are also apparent. Secondary cracks are common in stress corrosion cracking.
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Photos KSC Corrosion Lab. Used with permission.

8. Stress Corrosion
Section through the neck of a
non-magnetic drill collar pin connection, which has been severed from the tool body for investigation. Red arrow points to a hairline stress-corrosion crack. Drill collars normally are subjected to high compressive and bending-undercompression loads, but relatively low tensile loads, except in the pin (male threaded end) connection.

Photo: Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. Collection

Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

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8 Types of Corrosion
1. Uniform, or general attack 2. Galvanic, or two-metal corrosion 3. Crevice corrosion 4. Pitting 5. Intergranular corrosion 6. Selective leaching, de-alloying or parting
(including graphitisation) 7. Erosion corrosion, and 8. Stress corrosion.
Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

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Wells Module ENM201 3. Types of Corrosion

Prepared by

OWEN S. JENKINS LTD.

4, Charlton Avenue, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, AB34 5GL, United Kingdom. Tel. +44 (0)13398 87779. Mobile phone: +44 (0)7803 296779. Email: owen@osjl.co.uk Website: www.osjl.co.uk
Robert Gordon University and Owen S. Jenkins Ltd. 2010

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