Effect of Chloride in The Electrochemical Degradation of Carbon Steel in E40 Fuel Ethanol Applications

The effect of different chloride concentration on the corrosion rate of carbon steel in E40 is presented in this study. The corrosion rates for each sample were examined using gravimetric method and polarization measurement. The samples were immersed into E40 fuel grade ethanol containing NaCl concentrations of (0, 8, 16, 24 and 32 mg/L) for a minutest of 10 days and a maximum of 40days. Results obtained from both gravimetric and polarization measurements show that as chloride concentration amplified from 0 mg/L to 32 mg/L, there was an increase in corrosion rate of the carbon steel with the exception of a slight decrease at 24 mg/L on the 30th and 40th day. Corrosion rate was observed to be dependent on exposure time.