Electrochemical corrosion of grinding media and effect of anions present in industrial waters

The steel used in the minerals processing as grinding media (balls or bars) , is an important input in terms of cost of the process. Considering the im portance of the steel consumption in these processes, this work is guided t o evaluate to laboratory scale the effect of the anions present in the indu strial waters on the electrochemical corrosion of grinding media. Tests in electrochemical cell, were accomplished measuring potential and corrosion c urrent to four electrodes that were manufactured using sufficiently pure sa mples of chalcopirite, bornite, enargite and steel ball. The ions used in t he tests were chlorides, sulfates, nitrates and carbonates in concentration s from 1 to 180 ppm in individual form or in mixtures, according to the lev els measurement of these in industrial waters.