This paper offers an explanation of the mechanisms behind the effects of Cu on the corrosion and hydrogen permeation rates of pipeline steels in HS environments. Over narrow pH ranges, Cu can either enhance or reduce the corrosion rate and likewise the hydrogen permeation rate. This behavior is explained by way of the semiconductor properties of the iron sulfide film that is formed in H2S solutions. Competing mechanisms at lower (< 4.0) and higher (> 5.5) pH values override the semiconductive attribute of the film.

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National Association of Corrosion Engineers
1984
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