What Does
Hygroscopic Property Mean?
The hygroscopic property of any material refers to material's ability to attract and hold water molecules. This is achieved by the process of adsorption or absorption of water from the surrounding environment.
The hygroscopic property of substances makes them capable of causing corrosion in metals and other materials.
Corrosionpedia Explains Hygroscopic Property
The hygroscopic property of a substance makes it capable of adsorbing and absorbing water from the surrounding area, leading to damage, and eventually failure in various systems, equipment and machinery. Therefore, proper measures should be developed to inhibit corrosion. One way to accomplish this is to accurately measure the humidity or the water vapor content present in the air using a hygrometer.
Additionally, tests such as static loss of mass can be conducted to investigate the corrosive behavior of hygroscopic matter. In this test, the hygroscopic substance is exposed to various corrosion inhibitor environments or solutions to determine the best way to inhibit hygroscopic corrosion. Finding the best inhibitor can significantly reduce the corrosive effects of hygroscopic substances.
Some common examples of hygroscopic substances include:
- Sodium chloride
- Zinc chloride
- Sodium hydroxide crystals