Chemical Composition and Corrosiveness of the Condensate in Top-of-the-Line Corrosion

The three key aspects of the top-of-the-line corrosion process are condensation, chemical speciation, and corrosion. The focus of this study is on the condensate speciation through a thermodynamic approach. Specifically, the goal of this study was to determine the concentration of acetic acid in the condensate. The presence of acetic acid (CH3COOH) tends to increase the corrosion rate and to promote localized corrosion. The results of this study show that the concentration of free acetic acid in the condensate is determined predominantly by the pH of the liquid phase, which is changed by the corrosion process. The concentration of total acetic acid seems to decrease as the condensation rate increases. The understanding and results gained from this study will lead to the creation of a complete predictive model for top-of-the-line corrosion.