How does a corrosion coupon work?

Corrosion coupons are pre-weighed and measured metal strips which are mounted in a special pipe system called a coupon rack. They are used to estimate the rate of metal corrosion by comparing the initial weight with the weight following 60, 90 or 120 days of exposure to the water in the system.

What is the purpose of corrosion coupons?

Corrosion coupons are installed to duplicate the corrosion rate experienced in piping, pipelines, or vessels. They can also be used to estimate the effectiveness of the mitigation program in place or evaluate the suitability of a specific material for a specific system.

How do you calculate corrosion coupon?

Corrosion rate is calculated assuming uniform corrosion over the entire surface of the coupon. mpy = (weight loss in grams) * (22,300)/(Adt) mpy = corrosion rate (mils per year penetration) A = area of coupon (sq. in.) d = metal density of coupon (g/cm3) t = time of exposure in corrosive environment (days).

What is corrosion coupon and probe?

Corrosion coupons, probes, holders are corrosion-sensing devices that can detect the rate of corrosion in any process environment. Corrosion monitoring coupons provide precise corrosion rate monitoring in any process environment and they are beneficial in terms of: Maintenance and Repair costs.

What is the main drawback of using corrosion coupons for atmospheric corrosion?

The disadvantage of the coupon technique is that if a corrosion upset occurs during the period of exposure, the coupon alone will not be able to identify the time of occurrence of the upset, and depending upon the peak value of the upset and its duration, may not even register a statistically significant increased …

What is an acceptable corrosion rate?

As a guideline for mild steel, the following corrosion rates can be interpreted as follows: √ 0-2 mils per year – Excellent corrosion control. √ 2-3 mils per year – Generally acceptable for all systems. √ 3-5 mils per year – Fair corrosion control.

How do you know if pipes are corroded?

The Ultrasonic Technology tool (UT) is another inspection tool used for corrosion detection in pipelines. It provides similar data as the MFL PIG tool. It can directly quantify the thickness of the pipe wall by transmitting an ultrasonic pulse into the wall and processing the reflected signal [6].

What is a corrosion coupon rack?

A corrosion coupon rack is a simple corrosion monitoring device that uses corrosion coupons, which are strips of metal that match the metals in the system where they are installed. The initial weight of each coupon is carefully measured and logged.

What is meant by pitting corrosion?

Pitting corrosion is a localized form of corrosion by which cavities or “holes” are produced in the material. Pitting is considered to be more dangerous than uniform corrosion damage because it is more difficult to detect, predict and design against. Corrosion products often cover the pits.

How fast does corrosion occur?

Steel corrodes quickly in acidic environments and slowly or not at all as alkalinity is increased. The corrosion rate of steel in soil can range from less than 0.2 microns per year in favorable conditions to 20 microns per year or more in very aggressive soils.

How can you tell if there is corrosion under insulation?

There are a number of methods used today to inspect for corrosion under insulation. The main ones are profile radiography, ultrasonic spot readings, and insulation removal. The other method now available is real-time X-ray.

Why do you need a corrosion test coupon?

Accurate monitoring of corrosion rates in any environment is critical when viewed in terms of the maintenance and repair costs associated with corrosion and material failure. Test coupons provide an inexpensive means of on-line monitoring that will allow you to effectively measure the corrosivity within your system.

Which is the least expensive method of estimating corrosion?

It is the simplest, least expensive and longest-established method of estimating corrosion losses in operating system. EuropCorr® weight loss corrosion coupons are made to study corrosion and erosion behaviour in pipelines and vessels.

What kind of coupons can metal samples make?

Metal Samples can make coupons in any size, shape, or material you need. Coupons can be stenciled with alloy and sequence numbers for proper identification. Mill test reports, identifying element compositions of materials used, are provided on all orders.

How are strip coupons mounted on europcorr holders?

Coupons are usually grit-blasted and furnished with insulation for mounting. The mounting hardware are supplied with the coupon holders. Scale coupons: has the same shape of 3” strip coupon and is mounted on a strip coupon holder in the same way that strip coupons are.