Corrosion Effects on Low Carbon Steel Marine Heat Exchanger
Abstract
While heat exchangers are of extreme relevance in industrial applications, the effect of corrosion encountered have rarely been studied. Corrosion is a naturally occurring phenomenon that cannot be totally eradicated. However, its effect can be studied as well as controlled to a degree. In the maritime industry, machineries and other structures which comes in contact with saltwater constitute a major concern as to its corrosive response to its operating environment. This paper therefore reviews the corrosive behaviour of low carbon steel by an examination of its structural integrity and performance when exposed to different corrosive environments placed at room temperature and varying concentrations. From the conducted experiment, he observed loss in weight proved that low carbon steel corrodes with greater weight loss in all the test media with a rate of 0.0450mm/yr. - 0.0660mm/yr. Furthermore, mechanical test to determine hardness and tensile strength revealed the tensile strength and hardness.