Abstract
Burning methanol and ethanol generate formic acid and acetic acid, respectively, as reaction products. These acids, concentrated in the liquid during the fires, cause electrochemical corrosion and rust formation on metal substrates. In these experiments, small amounts of alcohol were burnt on 1020 steel coupons. Corrosion products were analysed by FT-IR spectroscopy and by microscopy. Rates of rust formation were measured gravimetrically for various alcohol solutions, then compared with rates of deposit formation beneath fires of iso-octane. In other experiments, acidity changes in liquid methanol and ethanol were measured as larger volumes of these fuels were burnt in beakers. Observed acidity increase during the pool fires is consistent with acid concentrations necessary to produce metal corrosion.
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