Seasonal Variation in Rate of Impingement Corrosion

IMPINGEMENT attack, as one of the types of corrosion suffered by condenser tubes, has been given a prominent place in corrosion literature of recent years. It has been reproduced and studied in carefully controlled laboratory tests. Much has been learned of its mechanism, and of the effects of variables such as temperature, amount of air, size of bubble and water velocity. Incidentally the technical public has been given comparisons between the behavior of some few metals under various conditions of impingement attack. The tests recorded here were undertaken in an effort to find at least some sort of qualitative answer to questions which arose occasionally as to the relative resistance of various alloys to impingement attack, and which could not be answered by reference to the literature. The final decision to start work on the problem was influenced in large measure by the nature of the water available in this particular place. The mill of the Bridgeport Brass Co. is located on the Pequonnock River at Bridgeport, Conn., within two miles of its mouth. The water is much like many other estuarine sources which are used in condensers, and which cause particularly severe corrosion. It seemed a most suitable water to use in such tests. As the work progressed an important seasonal variation was noted. The purpose of this note is to record this seasonal effect. The results of individual tests are given only incidentally.