Comparative Study on Dangers of Corrosion in Marine Heat Exchanger Performance Using Cast Steel C-1030 and Copper C-642

Abstract

This research was undertaken to comparatively determine the effects of corrosion in cast steel C-1030 and copper C-642 used as selected materials in marine heat exchanger design. Cast steel C-1030 immersed in freshwater at 0.0003M after twenty one (21) days (0.0567yr) gave corrosion rise from 0.0493 mmpy, 0.0555 mmpy to 0.0656 mmpy while copper C-642 at 0.000004M in freshwater experienced no corrosion rise for the 1st and 2nd week, although a corrosion increase of 0.0006 mmpy was revealed at the third week of immersion. Also results at 0.0015M of cast steel C-1030 gave corrosion increase from 0.0365 mmpy to 0.0617 mmpy while copper C-642 gave corrosion rise from 0.0351 mmpy to 0.0409 mmpy. Results at 0.002M of saltwater gave corrosion rise from 0.0369 mmpy to 0.0452 mmpy and 0.0351 mmpy to 0.0363 mmpy for cast steel C-1030 and copper C-642. The overall results confirmed higher corrosion rise in cast steel C-1030 compared to copper C-642 sample. The comparative results of both selected materials by weight loss technique and surface analysis by inverted metallurgical microscope at the various concentration of the media revealed the effects of corrosion, as higher corrosion rate was evident in cast steel metal, thus, confirming copper C-642 to be  more resistive to corrosion attack than cast steel C-1030.