Ultrasonic modification of carbonate scale electrochemically deposited in tap water

Influence of the ultrasound intensity (28 kHz, 1.1-7.5 W/cm2) on CaCO3 nucleation-growth on the surface of a cylinder mild steel electrode rotating at 500 rpm was studied in tap water. The deposition kinetics was analyzed by chronoamperometry; the calcareous layer was characterized by gravimetry, scanning electron microscopy and XRD. Application of ultrasound to calcium carbonate crystallization affects nucleation site density, mass-transport rate and cavitation erosion of the deposits. Lower intensity ultrasound reduces scale porosity and area density by increasing nucleation site density and accelerating the mass transport. Higher intensity ultrasound promotes cavitation erosion of the formed layer, thus cleaning the surface from the scale. A scale layer with the highest blocking properties formed under applied ultrasound intensity of 1.9 W/cm2. The ultrasound doubled crystallization rate, reduced the scale porosity 5 times and halved its area density compared to non-sonicated conditions. Ultrasound of controllable intensity can solve both scale and corrosion problems of industrial heat-exchange equipment by forming a protective scale layer and removing excessive deposits.