Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Investigation of the Effect of Annealing on the Corrosion Resistance of Medium Carbon Steel in Sea Water
by Joel Oluwayomi Oyejide, Ejiroghene Kelly Orhorhoro, Andrew Nosa Ogie and Ufuoma Stanley Idi

Abstract:
The usage of medium carbon steel is noticeable in various aspects of human life such as in manufacturing, oil and gas, construction, medical, textile, transport and aviation industries to mention a few. However, the failure of parts and components of engineering materials produced from medium carbon steel in different industries by corrosion is one of the major problems.Annealing which is one of the heat treatment process is employed to improve its properties such as strength and hardness. This research work is focused on the investigation of the effect of annealing on the corrosion resistance of medium carbon steel in sea water. Medium carbon steel samples were machined into cylindrical pieces of 30mm diameter and 50mm long. The samples were divided into three sets; as received (set 1), annealed at 9300C with a soaking time of one hour (set 2), and annealed at 10000C with a soaking time of one hour (set 3). Each of the sets were exposed to sea water for a period of 72 days. Weight loss, and rate of corrosionwere evaluated. The results obtained show that weight loss was faster with the samples annealed at 10000C (set 3), and this was followed by samples annealed at 9300C (set 2). However, weight loss was slower with the samples that was not annealed (set 1). Besides, corrosion rate increases with higher annealing temperature and the as received samples (set 1) which was not annealed show better corrosion resistance tendency than the annealed samples (set 2 and set 3).Thus, in this research work, annealed medium carbon steel at 9300C shows better corrosion resistance tendency than annealed samples at 10000C. Therefore, for the purpose of corrosion resistance, heat treatment via annealing can be neglected. But if heat treatment must be applied as a results of the mechanical properties of the material, then the required annealing temperature that lower corrosion rate should be adopted.Considering the high usage of medium carbon steel in the industry, this research work will be of huge benefits for engineers in the choice of heat treatment for medium carbon steel materials intend for use in sea water.

Keywords: Annealing, corrosion, weight loss, medium carbon steel

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