Fifty test installations of Type 304 stainless steel underground gas service lines in the Baltimore, Md. area have been in service for two years. All of the services were exposed bare and 25 of them were cathodically protected by sacrificial magnesium anodes.

Electrical and electrochemical measurements taken periodically tended to indicate no corrosion was occurring. Because localized pitting or crevice corrosion might not be detected by these measurements, six of the service lines were excavated, removed and inspected. No evidence of any type of corrosive attack was observed on the removed lines, which included three unprotected lines and three cathodically protected lines.

The test is continuing with the remaining 44 lines. It is hoped that continued satisfactory experience will eventually qualify austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steel as a gas piping material for underground use.

Subject
Buildings, Materials, Piping, Cathodic protection, Pipe to soil potential, Magnesium anodes, Installation, Corrosion attacks, Tubing, Cathodic sites, Stainless steel, Polarization, Soil
© 1973 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1973
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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