A predictive model for life assessment of automotive exhaust mufflers subject to internal corrosion failure due to exhaust gas condensation

• A mechanistic model has been developed of corrosion on internal walls of automotive exhaust mufflers.
• Experiments were conducted by using corrosion and condensation sensors to monitor the corrosion and condensation rates.
• The accuracy of model has been validated by comparison between experimental and predicted results showing a good agreement.

A study has been presented on pitting corrosion on internal walls of automotive exhaust muffler due to exhaust gas condensation. The problem mainly exists in the rear section of the exhaust system close to the tail end pipe such as the muffler, especially when the temperature of the muffler does not go up during short distance run or winter. The water vapour condenses on the muffler's inner wall in the form of water droplets. The dissolution of corrosive gases coming from the internal combustion of engine as well as condensation of low-pH acidic vapours in the water droplet can cause severe pitting corrosion on standard exhaust steel. In this work, an experiment is reported for internal corrosion, by using mufflers as test bed subjected to different environmental conditions. Based on observations, a mechanistic model has been developed which involves three main techniques: (i) the dropwise condensation technique predicts the condensation rate and is based on heat and mass transfer theory, (ii) the species breakdown in the droplet is established through the main thermodynamic and chemical equilibrium, and (iii) the pitting corrosion involving pit depth is predicted using electrochemical kinetic reactions, species transport and chemical reactions occurring inside the droplet. Lastly, the accuracy of the model has been validated by comparison between experimental and predicted results showing good agreement.