The Effects of Soil Parameters on the Corrosion of Buried Pipe in Gidan Kwano, Minna, Nigeria.

Abstract

This research investigated the effects of moisture content and soil resistivity on the corrosion rate of low carbon steel in the soil of Gidan Kwano, Minna, Nigeria. Six flat specimens (Steel coupons), were cut from the pipe with the dimension of 60mm x 40mm x 2mm each. The coupons were buried at six different locations at one meter apart from each other exposed for a period of 12weeks. Moisture content and resistivity were evaluated using oven drying method at 110oC for 24 hours, and Wenner four electrode methods respectively. The site had a moisture content of 23.73% and resistivity of 33.4ohms meter. Weight loss method was adopted in evaluating the corrosion rate of the pipe after every 2weeks interval. The weight loss at the end of each of the exposure period (time) was: 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 0.6, 0.9, and 0.11grammes respectively, and corrosion rate calculated were: 0.062, 0.061, 0.098, 0.089, 0.100, and 0.111mm/year respectively.