Corrosion Behavior of Mild Steel in Different Concentrations of Ethanol Beverages

Corrosion behavior of mild steel was investigated in different blends of ethanol solution. Potentiodynamic polarization tests and weight loss analysis were carried out to study the corrosion polarization tendency of the various blends of the solution on mild steel using water as a control medium. Scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive spectroscopy was employed to characterize the surface morphologies as well as the elemental composition of each material subjected to corrosion tests. The result of the potentiodynamic polarization curves showed that water contributed to the corrosion rate of the material. Further to this, ethanol samples behaved passive against corrosion degradation. The result of the weight loss indicated that corrosion of the mild steel actually took place. More so, the SEM/EDS revealed the microstructural behavior of the surface oxides, spots, cracks and corrosive pits at the interface with the ethanol environment. This study will help in improving the mechanical properties of mild steel material employed to produce spur gear that will reliably function in an ethanol environment.