Methanol/Ethanol corroding metals
Methanol/Ethanol corroding metals
(OP)
Hi everyone,
We are planning to use Methanol or Ethanol for cooling (-40ºC/-40ºF minimum temperature).
The problem we are facing (apart from the flammability) is the corrosion. We want to use aluminium pipes because of the good conductivity (copper is not possible for us).
How can we overcome this problem?
We could anodize the aluminium but we have some parts which are plates with holes for the coolant. We might also 3D print some tricky parts with the channels inside.
We could (if really needed) use steel or stainless steel
It seems the Ethanol is less corrosive, so in principle more promising, but also more expensive.
Does anyone have any knowledge about this topic?
Thank you in advance
Regards,
We are planning to use Methanol or Ethanol for cooling (-40ºC/-40ºF minimum temperature).
The problem we are facing (apart from the flammability) is the corrosion. We want to use aluminium pipes because of the good conductivity (copper is not possible for us).
How can we overcome this problem?
We could anodize the aluminium but we have some parts which are plates with holes for the coolant. We might also 3D print some tricky parts with the channels inside.
We could (if really needed) use steel or stainless steel
It seems the Ethanol is less corrosive, so in principle more promising, but also more expensive.
Does anyone have any knowledge about this topic?
Thank you in advance
Regards,





RE: Methanol/Ethanol corroding metals
RE: Methanol/Ethanol corroding metals
You might want to look at stainless steel, it is strong enough that you can use much thinner walls than in Al.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Plymouth Tube
RE: Methanol/Ethanol corroding metals
http://www.techstreet.com/api/products/1377825
Steve Jones
Corrosion Management Consultant
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/8/83b/b04
All answers are personal opinions only and are in no way connected with any employer.
RE: Methanol/Ethanol corroding metals
Aluminum is definitely used in fuel-handling equipment.
Do you have a reference indicating that aluminum isn't compatible with cold methanol? I checked an old copy of the NACE tables I had at hand and it shows < 0.005 in/yr corrosion for either methanol or ethanol, but that table doesn't break down by grade of aluminum. I suspect what you may be worrying about is rather like the concerns with the use of deionized or distilled water- problems that will go away entirely in practical terms in a closed-loop deoxygenated tempered cooling system.
RE: Methanol/Ethanol corroding metals
RE: Methanol/Ethanol corroding metals
RE: Methanol/Ethanol corroding metals
Steve Jones
Corrosion Management Consultant
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/8/83b/b04
All answers are personal opinions only and are in no way connected with any employer.
RE: Methanol/Ethanol corroding metals
RE: Methanol/Ethanol corroding metals
I don't know if you've reached a solution on this but I figured I'd forward some information for you to look into. There was a CSB investigation into a fire that occurred at a Florida plant in 2006. A flame arrestor had experienced corrosion that the investigation found to be due to the methanol service in the tank it was attached to. The final report simply references "NACE International, The Corrosion Society (2002). Corrosion Survey Database (COR·SUR). NACE International." I'd consider reviewing this data for the susceptibility of the corrosion of aluminum in methanol service.