Scientific Research and Essays Vol. 2 (6), 184-190, June 2007          
ISSN 1992-2248 © 2007 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative analyses of corrosion rates of subsurface storage tanks (metals) with some mechanical properties

Ezi, C. W. I., Owate, I.O.* and Abumere, O. E.

Department of Physics, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: owateio@yahoo.com

Accepted 9 May, 2007

A comparative study of the corrosion phenomena of subsurface storage tank vessel in different media has been performed. The corrosion rates of the system was determined and compared with some mechanical properties of the tank materials. The corrosion rates were calculated from the data obtained by weight loss technique. The tensile and impact strengths and hardness of materials were obtained by standard methods. It was observed that increasing corrosion rates led to gradual reduction of mechan-ical properties. For example, there were reduction in tensile strengths, hardness and yield strengths. Also acidic medium had greater impact on the tanks than the basic and natural media.  Consequently by proper control procedures, it has been possible to reduce the effect of corrosion upon subsurface tanks.

Key words: Corrosion, acid, base, tanks, degradation.