Abstract
This paper is a study on the prevention of crevice corrosion for a stainless steel heat exchanger in various pH solutions and with Cl ion concentrations. The electrochemical polarization test and crevice corrosion test of STS 304 for a heat exchanger were carried out. The crevice corrosion aspect, a passive behavior, crevice corrosion behavior, and corrosion protection characteristics of STS 304 using Al-alloy and Mg-alloy galvanic anode were considered. The main results are as follows: 1. The crevice corrosion of STS 304 occurs in the crevice and this corrosion increases pitting according to depth direction. On the other hand, the exterior crevice becomes passive. 2. With changing from a neutral to acid environment and increasing Cl ion concentration, the pitting potential of STS 304 lowers, and thus the crevice corrosion of STS 304 is sensitive. 3. The cathodic protection potential of STS 304 in the crevice is cathodically polarized by increasing Cl ion concentration. Therefore, an Al-alloy galvanic anode is more suitable than a Mg-alloy galvanic anode to protect the crevice corrosion of STS 304.
