The effect of acetic acid on the pit propagation in CO2 corrosion of carbon steel

The role of acetic acid (HAc) on the pit growth in CO₂ corrosion of carbon steel pipelines is studied by means of an artificial pit electrode. The current flowing between the artificial pit and the outer surface was measured with a zero resistance ammeter. It is shown that the corrosion potential increases with increasing HAc concentration. Depletion of HAc inside the pit imposed a potential difference that triggered the pit growth. The pit did not grow in absence of HAc. The pit growth was self-sustained only to a certain pit depth, beyond which the dissolution current at the bottom of the pit vanished. This is in good agreement with field observations mainly in the case of top-of-line corrosion phenomena.