Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1992

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Metallurgical Engineering

Major Professor

R. A. Buchanan

Committee Members

E. E. Stansbury, T. T. Meek

Abstract

The effects of radio frequency treatment of water on scale formation and corrosion were studied. Mass-loss measurements, microscopic surface examinations, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to evaluate the scale formation rates and corrosion rates of carbon steel specimens exposed to a supersaturated calcium carbonate solution (test medium) under radio frequency (RF) treated and untreated conditions. For comparison, specimens were also exposed to untreated tap water. The results are summarized as follows. In the untreated test medium, a thick, porous scale layer was formed. In the RF treated test medium, a thinner, more porous scale layer was formed. Also, a time lag was associated with scale formation in the RF treated medium. The carbon steel exhibited the lowest corrosion rate in the untreated test medium, the highest corrosion rate in the untreated tap water (no scale), and an intermediate corrosion rate in the RF treated test medium. It was concluded that the RF treatment slowed down the rate of scale formation and modified the scale characteristics. It was also concluded that the RF treatment did not affect the basic corrosion mechanism, but rather influenced the corrosion rate by changing the scale characteristics and therefore the corrosion protection associated with the scale.

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