Performance of Cu and Cu-Zn alloy in the Arabian Gulf environment

Abstract

Corrosion performance of copper and brass coupons during 15 month exposure in atmosphere, underground and splash zone conditions was undertaken at Khaleej Mardumah test site located in the industrial/coastal city of Jubail along the Arabian Gulf coast, Saudi Arabia. The environmental indicators such as soil, groundwater, seawater, and air particulate samples were assessed. The exposed corrosion coupons were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to identify the corrosion products and study their surface morphology. Corrosion rate was determined by weight loss method. The experimental results indicated that a high degree of variation in temperature and humidity in this region combined with high chloride and sulfate concentrations was primarily responsible for the corrosion of copper and brass at Khaleej Mardumah test site. Underground environment was the most corrosive to both copper and brass coupons studied, followed by splash zone. Corrosion rates were found to range from 4.29 to 10.84 µm/y for copper and from 2.47 to 29.31 µm/y for brass. Corrosion rates of copper and brass obtained in this study are also compared with those reported for other locations worldwide.