Improvement of the NACE Test for Determination of the Corrosive Properties of Gasoline and Distillate Fuels

The corrosive properties of gasoline and distillate fuels are evaluated through the NACE TM-0172 test. This is one of the most used laboratory tests for the management of inner side corrosion of pipelines. In this test method, a cylindrical carbon steel coupon is immersed in a mixture of the test fuel and distilled water. The mixture is stirred and is maintained at a prescribed temperature for 4 h. The corrosive properties of the test fuel are obtained by evaluating the corroded area of the carbon steel coupon. An extensive study was conducted aiming to understand the influence of the test conditions, such as degree of agitation, the geometry and the position of the carbon steel coupon, on the obtained results. Based on these results, the NACE TM-0172 test was improved by modifying the equipment characteristics and the testing apparatus. With the proposed modifications, these tests are conducted with high reproducibility.