What Does
Aqueous Corrosion Mean?
Aqueous corrosion is an electrochemical reaction of materials due to a wet environment, resulting in the deterioration of the material and its vital properties. In aqueous corrosion, the reaction rate depends on:
- Material's ion concentration
- Electrolyte reactivity
- Ambient air pressure
- Other reactive materials
- Bacteria
- Temperature
- Applied electric field
Study of aqueous corrosion is vital because water either dissolves or reacts with many useful materials like iron and steel, and most of the damage due to aqueous corrosion is controllable and preventable.
Corrosionpedia Explains Aqueous Corrosion
Aqueous corrosion is the most common type of corrosive deterioration. In order for aqueous corrosion to occur, the following must be present:
- Oxygen
- Electrolyte of moisture
- Material with corrosion potential immersed in the electrolyte
Electric fields externally applied to the material corroding systems may either increase or reduce and prevent the rate of corrosion.
Aqueous corrosion generally appears as:
- Pitting
- Rust
- Crevice corrosion
- Intergranular corrosion
- Stress corrosion
- General corrosion
The corrosion in an aqueous environment up to the supercritical temperatures is influenced by the solution characteristics and material-related factors.
Characteristics of the solution are:
- pH
- Temperature
- Density
- Electrochemical potential of the solution
- Activity of the anions
Material parameters are:
- Surface quality
- Composition
- Purity level
- Heat treatment (if any)
When water temperature is high, the solubility as well as the dissociation of both reactant and corrosion products determine the corrosion rate. Different coatings and other methods are available for prevention of damage.