What substances cause corrosion? (first part)

Aug 19, 2019
YES THAT

There are different chemical substances in the industry that can cause corrosion in your facilities. Many times we are unaware that there are effective solutions to prevent corrosion of our piping systems, such as internal coatings.

In this article we explain which are some of the highly corrosive substances that can damage your equipment and cause breakages that, consequently, cause accidents and production failures. If you manage any of the mentioned in your company, it is necessary that you be cautious and know the solutions that SIESA offers.

Hydrochloric acid

With the formula HCl, and also known as muriatic acid or etching, it is commonly extracted from sea salt, or during the burning of certain plastics. It is extremely corrosive and has a pH lower than 1, which is why it is used as a solvent, as an industrial solvent or as a catalyst to obtain other chemical substances.

Nitric acid

With the formula HNO₃ _, it is a viscous liquid commonly used as a reagent in the laboratory, as it is one of the components of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and various fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate. It can also be found dissolved in acid rain, a well-known environmental phenomenon resulting from water pollution.

Sulfuric acid

Its formula is H₂SO₄ _, and it is one of the most widely processed products in the world, frequently used in the production of fertilizers, the synthesis of acids _and sulfates, and even in the petrochemical industry. It is also useful in the steel industry and in the manufacture of all types of batteries.

Ácido formic

Known as methanoic acid and with the formula CH₂O₂ _, it is the simplest of the organic acids, often secreted by insects such as the red wood ant ( Formica rufa ) or bees as a toxic defense mechanism. It is also produced by nettles, _or in acid rain due to atmospheric pollution. In small quantities, it can cause minor irritations, but despite being of natural origin, it is a strong corrosive.

concentrated acetic acid

Methylcarboxylic acid , also known as ethanoic acid, has the chemical formula C₂H₄O₂ . _It_{is the acid in vinegar, giving it its characteristic sour taste and smell. Like formic acid, it is an organic acid, but it is extremely weak}_, making its applications varied and less hazardous. Even so, in very high concentrations, it could be dangerous for plumbing systems.

Zinc Chloride

Zinc chloride (ZnCl₂ ₎ is a white, crystalline solid that is highly soluble in water and has wide applications in the textile industry and as a catalyst in laboratories. It is not particularly toxic, but it reacts exothermically with water (even ambient air) and can be particularly corrosive, especially to cellulose and silk.

Aluminum chloride

With the formula AlCl₃ _, this compound has both acidic and basic properties, depending on its dilution. It is a poor electrical conductor and has low melting and boiling points, making it useful in chemical processes as a catalyst, in wood preservation, and in petroleum cracking. Exposure to this compound is extremely harmful to metals, even stainless steel.

Boron trifluoride

Its formula is BF3 _, and it is a colorless, toxic gas that forms white clouds in humid air. It is frequently used in laboratories as a Lewis acid and in the synthesis of other boron compounds. It is a very strong corrosive to metals, and in the presence of moisture, it can corrode stainless steel.

sodium hydroxide

Caustic soda or caustic soda, with the formula NaOH, exists as white, odorless crystalline solids, whose dissolution in water or an acid generates large amounts of heat. It is used in more or less pure percentages in the paper, textile and detergent industries, as well as in the oil industry.

Potassium hydroxide

Known as caustic potash and with the chemical formula KOH, it is a highly desiccating inorganic compound, whose natural corrosiveness is used in applications as a fat saponifier (in the production of soap). Its dissolution in water is exothermic, that is, it generates heat energy.

sodium hydride

With the formula NaH, it is a very slightly soluble substance of transparent color, classified as a strong base. In addition to that, it is a powerful desiccant, since it stores enormous amounts of hydrogen, making it highly caustic and used as a solvent.