THE EFFECT OF CORROSION ON THE WEAR RATE OF STEEL PIPELINES CONVEYINGBACKFILL SLURRY

The wear of steel pipelines used for the transportation of backfill sl urries is frequently regarded as an erosion problem only. An investiga tion was undertaken of the likely contribution to the total 'wear rate ' made by corrosion. Use was made of a pipe flowloop with cathodically protected specimens and corrosion inhibitors. Laboratory electrochemi cal tests utilizing a rotating-cylinder electrode were also conducted. The slurries used were classified tailings from two mines at a relati ve density of 1, 7. The velocities were between 2 and 4,9 m/s. Substan tial decreases in the wear rate of up to 80 per cent for one slurry an d up to 67 per cent for the other were obtained with the use of corros ion control, showing that corrosion and, more importantly, interaction between erosion and corrosion, contribute a significant cant portion of the overall wear in steel pipelines.