Laboratory techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of salt neutralizers for the corrosion prevention of winter maintenance equipment
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to develop laboratory techniques to evaluate the inhibition efficiency of salt neutralizer (SN) solutions in the corrosion protection of metal alloys associated with winter maintenance equipment.
Design/methodology/approach
The corrosion resistance of alloys A36, B36 and B152 treated with SNs was evaluated by accelerated corrosion testing (ASTM B117) and electrochemical polarization curves. Characterization of inhibition solutions was performed by contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
Findings
Salt neutralizer systems act as mixed inhibitors in acidic media by changing the corrosion resistance ability of metal alloys because of the adsorption of surfactant molecules through their hydrophilic heads. The correlation of the corrosion rate of metal alloys and the inhibitor efficiency showed the influence of the SN type, its concentration, its effective adsorption constant and its contact angle on the alloy surface. Salt neutralizers with higher manufacturer’s recommended wash concentrations (MRWC) to critical wash concentration ratio, lower contact angle on the alloy surface and higher Keff were more successful at preventing corrosion on the alloys tested.
Originality/value
The results of this work provide, for the first time, both quantitative and qualitative information of the properties of washing techniques in the use of effective cleaning strategies for protecting winter maintenance equipment from corrosion. Other state departments of transportation facing similar weather conditions will be benefited by identifying measures and techniques to increase the corrosion resistance of their equipment assets.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This project was conducted in cooperation with the Ohio Office of Research and Development of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) under Grant # SJN 134718. The authors would like to thank the members of ODOT’s Technical Panel: Paul Ensinger (District 4 Roadway Services), Mike McColeman (Maintenance Administration) and Brian Olson (District 4 Hwy Management Admin). The authors would like to express their appreciation to ODOT’s Office of Statewide Planning and Research and Mr Jamie Hendershot for their time and assistance. Dr Ben S. Curatolo and Bruce Rose (Light Curable Coatings, Berea, OH) are also acknowledged for their assistance with the accelerated corrosion testing. Students, Bradford Vielhaber, Bradley Miller, Matthew Steiner, Maxwell Duckworth, Jordan Shaffer, Dao Letdara and Benjamin Sauer, greatly contributed to the development and data collection of this research.
Citation
Rodriguez, A.A., Monty, C.N., Miller, C.M., Cong, H. and Wujcik, E.K. (2016), "Laboratory techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of salt neutralizers for the corrosion prevention of winter maintenance equipment", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 63 No. 6, pp. 499-507. https://doi.org/10.1108/ACMM-03-2015-1516
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited