An electrochemical high temperature and high pressure facility is used to study the corrosion behaviour of carbon, low-alloy and stainless steels in several petrochemical environments.  Electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry and potentiometry are used to study the effect of temperature (up to 290°C), water concentration and rotation rate on the initiation of corrosion/fouling on carbon and stainless steels in several solutions (i.e. C6 solvents, raw pyrolysis gasoline and quench tower bottoms).  Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is also used to determine the onset of fouling on carbon and stainless steels in raw pyrolysis gasoline and quench tower bottoms as a function of surface condition.

Several experimental issues arise when attempting to study corrosion/fouling in these petrochemical environments namely solution conductivity, solvent volatility and reference electrode reliability.  Impurities such as water and chlorides can also influence the aquisition of valid and reproducible data in these organic environments.