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Crevice Corrosion

Introduction
Crevice corrosion is a type of localized corrosion that can be found within crevices or at shielded surfaces where a stagnant solution is present. Crevices make a chemical environment which is different from that of freely exposed surfaces and therefore accelerate corrosion. This environment keeps moisture, traps pollutants, concentrates corrosion products and meanwhile excludes oxygen. The crevices in which crevice corrosion happens may be formed by: 1.The geometry of the structure, e.g. riveted plates, welded fabrications, threaded joints. 2.Contact of the metal with non-metallic solids, e.g. plastics, rubber, glass. 3.Deposits of sand, dirt or permeable corrosion products on the metal surface (a type of crevice corrosion that is referred to as deposit attack)

Mechanism
Crevice corrosion is initiated by a difference in concentration of some chemical constituents, usually oxygen, which set up an electrochemical concentration cell (differential aeration cell in the case of oxygen). Outside of the crevice (the cathode), the oxygen content and the pH are higher but chlorides are lower. Cholrides concentrate inside the crevice (the anode), worsening the situation. Ferrous ions form ferric Chloride and attack the stainless steel rapidly. The pH and the oxygen content are lower in the crevice than in the bulk water solution, just as they are inside a pit. The pH inside the crevice may be as low as 2 in a neutral solution. Once a crevice has formed, the propagation mechanism for crevice corrosion is the same as for pittong corrosion. The major factors influencing crevice corrosion are: Crevice type: metal-to-metal, metal-to-non-metal Crevice geometry: gap size, depth, surface roughness Material: alloy composition(e.g Cr, Mo), structure Environmnent: pH, temperature, halide ions, oxygen.

Stage 1: Corrosion occurs as normal both inside and outside the crevice: Anodic reaction: MMn+ +ne, cathodic reaction: O2+2H2O+4e=4OH-. The positively charged metallic ions are electro statically counter balanced by OH-. Stage 2: at this stage, the cathodic reaction inside the crevice consumed most of the oxygen available. Stage 3: Cl- and OH- diffuse into the crevice to maintain a minimum potential energy. Metal chloride is formed. Hydrolysis of metal chloride lowers pH and MCln + nH2O = M(OH)n + nHCl. Stage 4: More Mn+ ions attack more Cl- leads to lower pH inside crevice, metal dissolution accelerates and more Mn+ ions will be produced that will lower pH.

Prevention
Crevice corrosion can be designed out of the system Use welded butt joints instead of riveted or bolted joints in new equipment Eliminate crevices in existing lap joints by continuous welding or soldering Avoid creating stagnant conditions and ensure complete drainage in vessels Use solid non-absorbent gaskets such as Teflon

http://www.corrosionclinic.com/types_of_corrosion/crevice_corrosion.htm http://soar.wichita.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/10057/917/grasp%20216.pdf

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