Cyclic voltammetric studies of carbon steel corrosion in chloride-formation water solution and effect of some inorganic salts

The influence of sulfide, sulfate and bicarbonate anions on the pitting corrosion behavior of carbon steel in formation water containing chloride ions were analyzed by means of cyclic voltammetry technique and complemented by X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigation. The anodic response exhibits a well-defined anodic peak A, followed by a passive region. A pronounced increase in the anodic current density is observed in the passive region at pitting potential (Epit). On the other hand, the cathodic sweep shows two cathodic peaks CI and CII. The data show that the presence of chloride ions causes pitting corrosion of carbon steel in formation water. It was found that both the pitting potential Epit and the repassivation potential (Epro) decreased with increase in Cl− ions concentration. Data clearly show that the presence of Na2S with 0.3 M of chloride ions has a strong accelerating effect on the active dissolution and pitting corrosion of carbon steel in formation water, while the presence of Na2SO4 and NaHCO3 with chloride ions has an inhibiting effect on the active dissolution and pitting corrosion.