Estudo da corrosão do aço 1020 no solo natural argiloso da região Amazônica

Abstract

The study of soil as a corrosive medium is considered of great importance, due to the large number of pipes and tanks fitted inside. The deterioration of these structures over the years, can pose a real problem for the economy and for the environment. Several methods have been proposed to study and monitor corrosion processes, such as mass loss tests, solution analysis, electrochemical and microbiological analyzes. In this research we used the AISI 1020 steel due to its chemical composition is similar to that of most steel pipelines - Case Urucu- Coari - Manaus. In this context, it was determined the corrosivity of a characteristic soil in the Amazon region for analytical and biological techniques. The geotechnical characterization of Amazonian soil held by determining the density, liquidity limits and plasticity , and grain size , according to the rules of the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT). For the analysis of mass loss worked with fresh samples and autoclaving. For fresh samples were made three kinds of tests: one placed in a jar containing steel 1020 and buried in soil in nature , and the other two samples with steel buried in soil aqueous extract (with and without cleaning steel isopropanol ). Another analysis with two sterile samples. For the calculation of the rate of corrosion (NACE standards -RP -07 -75 and ASTMG1 -90) were performed daily measurements over a period of 30 days. We analyzed the presence of micro-and macronutrients by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the soil, the concentration of the chemical elements in the soil aqueous extract fluorescence x-rays by total reflection and microbiological analysis to identify the genus and species of corrosive bacteria. The geotechnical results were : a) the density equal to 2.571 g / cm ³ b ) grading curve indicating clay matrix of the order of 76.08 % , and c ) liquid limit of 83 % and equal to 41 % LP, so an IP = 42%. This set of values framed the natural material, according to the classification of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) in group A- 7 on the clay soils. Referring to the analysis of weight loss, it is indicated that severe resolution of the samples according to comparative standard NACE -RP -07 -75, both for fresh samples and for sterilized samples , with one must underline that the samples sterilized obviously had lower rates than in nature . Analyses of soil micro and macronutrients identified elements which give average values for cation exchange capacity presenting colloidal particles that give the clay soil more aggressivel. Since the technique of fluorescence x- rays identified in this study key elements such as S and Cl, elements corrosive agents. Microbiological analysis identified the genus of bacteria Thiobacillus Thiooxidans, which oxidize S (sulfur) or S compounds to sulfate, with simultaneous production of sulfuric acid, which acts as a corrosive agent. In this perspective it appears the good performance of the study of corrosion of AISI 1020 steel in natural clayey soil in the Amazon region.