Cerium chloride inhibition of high strength low alloy steel in sulfide-polluted seawater

摘要

Corrosion inhibition of a high-strength low-alloy steel in sulfide-polluted synthetic seawater was investigated with respect to the effects of CeCl_3 and glutaraldehyde. The corrosion behavior of the steel was studied using weight-loss measurements and electrochemical techniques including open-circuit corrosion potential measurement, DC polarization resistance measurement and potentiodynamic polarization measurement. It was found that both CeCl_3 and glutaraldehyde were effective in reducing corrosion rate of the steel in seawater. In addition to causing corrosion inhibition, CeCl_3 was also found to act as a scavenger for sulfide in the solution. Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed the formation of continuous surface films, which contained cracks. X-ray dispersive spectrometric analysis revealed the existence of Ce and S in the surface films.