Modern concept of acoustic emission (AE) coupled with electrochemical measurements for monitoring the elastomer-coated carbon steel damage in phosphoric acid medium

Elastomer coatings (rubber) are industrially used to protect phosphoric acid storage tanks against corrosion. Rubber constitutes a barrier against the penetration of H₃PO₄ to metallic surface. Coatings damage induces both acid infiltration and steel corrosion. In this concept, acoustic emission (AE) monitoring technique could be used for the detection of coatings damage as well as for steel corrosion under the coating. In the present work AE was coupled to electrochemical measurements (EM) for rubber damage evaluation and steel corrosion on three types of steels (XC48, E20 and A60) at room temperature in concentrated phosphoric acid (30% P₂O₅) contaminated by Cl⁻, F⁻, SO₄²⁻. Electrochemical behaviour of steels was studied and characterized by potentiodynamic curves and polarization resistance measurement. A good correlation between acoustic emission and polarization resistance or corrosion potential measurements was found during stages of coatings damage and steels corrosion. The majority of AE activity recorded during experiments is related to hydrogen bubbles release. The release of hydrogen bubbles gives rise to two populations of signals: one impulsive and another one resonant.