Monthly Archives: February 2023

Factors that Affect Corrosion Coupon Testing

A. Environmental factors
B. Chemical factors
C. Mechanical factors
D. Electrochemical factors

A. Environmental factors

Corrosion coupon testing can be affected by several environmental factors, including:

  1. Temperature: Changes in temperature can affect the rate of corrosion, causing the coupon to corrode more or less quickly than expected.
  2. Humidity: High humidity levels can increase the rate of corrosion, especially for certain types of corrosion such as rust.
  3. Atmosphere: The presence of certain gases, such as sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, can accelerate corrosion.
  4. Salinity: High salt content in the environment can increase the rate of corrosion, especially in marine environments.
  5. Water flow: The movement of water can affect the rate of corrosion by transporting corrosive agents to the coupon or by providing oxygen to support corrosion.
  6. Light exposure: Light exposure can affect the rate of corrosion, especially for certain materials such as aluminum alloys.
  7. It’s important to control and monitor these factors during corrosion coupon testing to obtain accurate and reliable results.

It’s important to control and monitor these factors during corrosion coupon testing to obtain accurate and reliable results.

B. Chemical factors

Corrosion coupon testing can be affected by several chemical factors, including:

  1. Concentration of corrosive agents: The concentration of corrosive agents such as acids, salts, and gases can affect the rate of corrosion.
  2. pH: The pH of the environment can influence the rate of corrosion, as some materials are more susceptible to corrosion at certain pH levels.
  3. Oxygen availability: The availability of oxygen can influence the rate of corrosion, as some forms of corrosion require oxygen to occur.
  4. Presence of other materials: The presence of other materials, such as salts, can accelerate corrosion by providing a path for electron transfer or by changing the pH of the environment.
  5. Interactions between materials: The interactions between the coupon material and the environment can affect the rate of corrosion, as certain combinations of materials and environments can promote or inhibit corrosion.
  6. Microorganisms: The presence of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi can accelerate corrosion by producing corrosive by-products or by forming protective biofilms that can shield the coupon from the environment.

It’s important to control and monitor these factors during corrosion coupon testing to obtain accurate and reliable results.

C. Mechanical factors

Corrosion coupon testing can be affected by several mechanical factors, including:

  1. Surface roughness: Surface roughness can affect the rate of corrosion by providing areas for corrosive agents to collect and concentrate.
  2. Stress: Stress can accelerate corrosion by causing cracking and other forms of damage to the coupon material, allowing corrosive agents to penetrate the surface.
  3. Contact with other materials: Contact with other materials, such as metals or materials with different thermal expansion coefficients, can cause corrosion through galvanic corrosion or other forms of corrosion.
  4. Vibration: Vibration can cause corrosion by creating areas of high stress or by promoting the flow of corrosive agents to the coupon surface.
  5. Impact: Impact can cause damage to the coupon surface, allowing corrosive agents to penetrate and cause corrosion.
  6. Loading and unloading: The loading and unloading of the coupon can cause corrosion by creating areas of high stress or by promoting the flow of corrosive agents to the coupon surface.

It’s important to control and monitor these factors during corrosion coupon testing to obtain accurate and reliable results.

D. Electrochemical factors

Corrosion coupon testing can be affected by several electrochemical factors, including:

  1. Electrode potential: The electrode potential of the coupon material can affect the rate of corrosion, as some materials are more susceptible to corrosion at certain potentials.
  2. Current density: The current density of the coupon can affect the rate of corrosion, as higher current densities can lead to accelerated corrosion.
  3. Electrolyte conductivity: The conductivity of the electrolyte can affect the rate of corrosion, as higher conductivity can promote the transfer of electrons and ions, leading to increased corrosion.
  4. Polarization: Polarization can affect the rate of corrosion by altering the electrode potential and changing the reaction pathways of corrosion.
  5. Adsorption: The adsorption of corrosive agents to the coupon surface can affect the rate of corrosion by changing the reaction pathways of corrosion or by modifying the electrode potential.
  6. Corrosion protection: The presence of corrosion protection measures, such as coatings or inhibitors, can affect the rate of corrosion by altering the reaction pathways of corrosion or by modifying the electrode potential.

It’s important to control and monitor these factors during corrosion coupon testing to obtain accurate and reliable results.

Contact us

Crystal Industrial Syndicate Pvt Ltd.
Telephone : +91-22-27563850 |
Telefax : +91-22-67939439
sales@crystalindustrial.in


Crystal Industrial Syndicate from India, manufactures a variety of corrosion coupons for a range of industrial processes. Our world-class corrosion coupons manufactured in India comply with the world’s most stringent certifications. We have clients the world, from Europe and North America to Africa and the Middle East. Please contact us for details about how we can meet your corrosion coupon requirements. Contact us

Copyright © 2023 by Crystal Industrial Syndicate Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved. www.crystalindustrial.in

Chemical factors that affect corrosion coupon testing

In addition to environmental factors, there are also several chemical factors that can affect corrosion coupon testing. Some of the most important chemical factors to consider include:

  1. Composition of the material: The chemical composition of the material being tested can impact its susceptibility to corrosion. Certain materials are more prone to corrosion than others due to their chemical makeup.
  2. Presence of impurities: Impurities in the environment or in the material being tested can increase the rate of corrosion. For example, the presence of chlorides or sulfurates can increase the rate of corrosion.
  3. Concentration of corrosive species: The concentration of corrosive species, such as acids or salts, in the environment can impact the rate of corrosion. Higher concentrations of corrosive species can increase the rate of corrosion.
  4. Chemical reactions: Chemical reactions occurring in the environment can affect the rate of corrosion. For example, the reaction between water and air can form corrosive species, such as carbon dioxide and oxygen, that can impact the rate of corrosion.
  5. Exposure to aggressive media: Exposure to aggressive media, such as chemicals or gases, can increase the rate of corrosion. The specific aggressive media and its concentration can impact the rate of corrosion.

It is important to consider these chemical factors when conducting corrosion coupon testing to obtain accurate and reliable results.

How composition of the material affects corrosion coupon testing

The composition of the material can significantly affect corrosion coupon testing by influencing various corrosion mechanisms and rates. Some factors include:

  1. Alloying elements: Certain elements, such as chromium, nickel, and molybdenum, can improve the corrosion resistance of a material.
  2. Impurities: The presence of impurities, such as sulfur or phosphorus, can cause the material to be more susceptible to corrosion.
  3. Microstructure: The grain size, orientation, and distribution of the material can affect its corrosion resistance.
  4. Surface finish: The surface finish of the material can impact the initiation and propagation of corrosion, such as the presence of surface defects, cracks or surface roughness.
  5. Phase composition: The presence of multiple phases, such as precipitates or alloys, can affect the corrosion resistance of the material.

By understanding the composition of the material, it is possible to make predictions about how it will behave in different environments and to design more effective corrosion-resistant materials.

How presence of impurities affect corrosion coupon testing

The presence of impurities can significantly impact the corrosion behavior of a material in coupon testing. Impurities can act as corrosion initiators, promote the formation of corrosion products, or alter the rate of corrosion. Some impurities that can affect corrosion include:

  1. Sulfur: Sulfur can cause pitting corrosion, a localized form of corrosion that can lead to rapid material degradation.
  2. Phosphorus: Phosphorus can act as a deoxidizer, promoting the formation of corrosion products and increasing the rate of corrosion.
  3. Chlorides: Chlorides can act as a catalyst, accelerating the corrosion process and causing pitting corrosion or stress corrosion cracking.
  4. Hydrogen: The presence of hydrogen can increase the rate of corrosion by promoting hydrogen evolution reactions.
  5. Carbon: Carbon can affect the corrosion behavior of steels by changing the passivity of the material and promoting corrosion in some environments.

It is important to control the presence of impurities during coupon testing to ensure accurate and meaningful results. Impurities can enter a material during production, storage, or exposure to the environment, so it is important to monitor for impurities and to properly prepare the coupons before testing.

How concentration of corrosive species affects corrosion coupon testing

Concentration of corrosive species in the environment affects corrosion coupon testing as it influences the rate and type of corrosion that occurs. Higher concentrations of corrosive species, such as sulfuric acid, lead to more severe and faster corrosion. This means that the corrosion rate of a coupon exposed to a high concentration environment may be different from the rate observed in a low concentration environment. Therefore, accurate representation of the corrosive environment is crucial in coupon testing to obtain reliable corrosion data.

How surface finish affects corrosion coupon testing

Surface finish can affect corrosion coupon testing as it influences the rate and type of corrosion that occurs. A smoother surface finish, such as a polished surface, typically has less surface area for corrosion to occur, leading to slower corrosion rates. On the other hand, a rougher surface finish, such as a sandblasted surface, has a larger surface area for corrosion to occur, leading to faster corrosion rates. Therefore, the surface finish of the coupon can significantly impact the results of corrosion testing, and it is important to control and standardize the surface finish of the coupon to obtain reliable corrosion data.

Phase composition

Phase composition refers to the mixture of different materials present in an alloy, and it can affect corrosion coupon testing by influencing the rate and type of corrosion that occurs. Different phases within an alloy can have different chemical and physical properties, leading to differences in corrosion behavior. For example, the presence of a highly corroded phase in an alloy can accelerate the overall corrosion rate of the alloy.

Therefore, accurate representation of the phase composition is important in coupon testing to obtain reliable corrosion data. This can be achieved by using homogenous coupons with well-defined composition, or by characterizing the phase composition of the test environment and adjusting the coupon composition accordingly.

Contact us

Crystal Industrial Syndicate Pvt Ltd.
Telephone : +91-22-27563850 |
Telefax : +91-22-67939439
sales@crystalindustrial.in


Crystal Industrial Syndicate from India, manufactures a variety of corrosion coupons for a range of industrial processes. Our world-class corrosion coupons manufactured in India comply with the world’s most stringent certifications. We have clients the world, from Europe and North America to Africa and the Middle East. Please contact us for details about how we can meet your corrosion coupon requirements. Contact us

Copyright © 2023 by Crystal Industrial Syndicate Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved. www.crystalindustrial.in