New Automated NACE Spindle Corrosion Test According to NACE TM0172 (ASTM D665/D7548)

The corrosivity of petroleum products (gasoline and other distillates) must be determined before transportation through pipelines in order to control the internal corrosion of pipelines. The NACE TM01721 test for “Determining Corrosive Properties of Cargoes in Petroleum Product Pipelines” is considered a reference test and is the most widely used laboratory test for this purpose.

A new instrumental approach for measurement of corroded surface area has been developed by AD Systems in which the exact percentage of corroded area is accurately determined by an automatic instrument, drastically reducing operator subjectivity and labour costs. The innovative CT10 instrument images the entire spindle surface. Operation is based on a homogeneous lighting source, CCD camera, specimen rotation system, and specially designed Windows CE application software.

The CT10 test is simple and straightforward. The specimen is prepared according to the NACE TM0172 (ASTM D665/D7548) test procedure and is then placed in the test chamber of the CT10. The operator enters sample information using an intuitive graphical interface with touch screen panel, and starts a specimen scan. Light is emitted onto the surface of the specimen. The specimen is rotated and images of the surface are taken. The software builds a “flat" image of the specimen surface, calculates the percentage of the corroded area and then calculates the NACE rating. A detailed test report is ready in less than 5 minutes, including a digital image for future reference.

The CT10 is a tremendously versatile instrument for both research and routine applications at locations where NACE corrosion performance is evaluated including refineries, independent laboratories, pipelines and terminals, corrosion inhibitor producers, and research and development.

The benefits of the CT10 include quick, accurate and objective rating of specimen. The instrument automatically verifies specimen diameter as required in the method. The instrument has a compact design, robust construction and is installed in minutes. The results are saved in an internal database and can be printed, transferred to a USB memory stick and/or sent to a LIMS, and every test is fully documented and traceable.

The CT10 strictly follows the test method removing the subjectivity inherent to the manual test. It significantly improves repeatability and reproducibility and provides a final evaluation which eliminates disputes between the shipper and receiver of the product.

In addition to the CT10, AD Systems (France) has developed automated testing instruments including: SP10–Automated Smoke Point, ASTM D1322 Smoke Point of Kerosines and Aviation Turbine Fuels; DR10–Heater Tube Deposit Rater, Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Test (JFTOT) ASTM D3241; AutoREID–Automated Reid Vapour Pressure Apparatus, ASTM D323-B; DT100DL–Dispersancy Tester.