On the issue of potential application of electrical conductivity in assessing the corrosive activity of acid solutions

The article considers the possibility of using electrical conductivity as a potential method for assessing the corrosive activity of acid solutions. The main attention is paid to the analysis of the relationship between changes in the electrical conductivity of the acid medium and changes in its corrosive activity. In the experimental part, destabilization of the corrosion inhibitor was simulated by dosed introduction of iron ions into inhibited acid solutions. Gravimetric tests of carbon steel specimens and measurements of the specific electrical conductivity and ohmic resistance of the solutions were carried out in parallel. It was found that an increase in the concentration of iron ions in the solution leads to an increase in the corrosion rate of steel, accompanied by a decrease in electrical conductivity and an increase in ohmic resistance. The obtained data indicate a possible correlation between an increase in the corrosive activity of acid solutions and their electrical characteristics. Presumably, electrical conductivity measurement can be used as an additional auxiliary method for rapid monitoring of the state of acid solutions, for example, during their storage or before use. At the same time, electrical conductivity and ohmic resistance do not directly determine corrosive activity, but can potentially record transformations accompanying possible changes in acid solutions. Therefore, the proposed method can be considered as indicative, requiring further research.

1. Avdeev Ya.G., Kuznetsov Yu.I. (2023). Organic corrosion inhibitors for metals in acid solutions. I. Features of the protective action mechanism. Russian journal of physical chemistry. Vol. 97. No. 3. P. 305–321. DOI: 10.31857/S0044453723030056. EDN: DWCNDM.

2. Artemkina Yu.M., Zagoskin Yu.D., Kuznetsov N.M., Shcherbakov V.V. (2016). Regularities in electrical conductivity of aqueous solutions of some inorganic acids. Khimiya i khimicheskaya tekhnologiya. Vol. 59. No. 2. P. 26–29.

3. GOST 9.106–2021. Unified system of corrosion and ageing protection. Corrosion of metals. Terms and definitions. Introduced 2022–01–01. Moscow: Russian institute of standardization, 2021. 28 p.

4. Davletshina L.F., Tolstykh L.I., Poteshkina K.A. et al. (2023). Study of features of effective corrosion inhibitors selection for various acids. Practice of anti-corrosion protection. Vol. 28. No. 2. P. 34–41. DOI: 10.31615/j.corros.prot.2023.28.2.4

5. Luchkin R.S. (2017). Corrosion and protection of metallic materials (structural and chemical factors): electronic textbook. Togliatti: Togliatti state university publishing house, 269 p. ISBN 978-5-8259-1160-1.

6. Markin A.N. (2024). Evaluation of local corrosion based on data obtained from electrical resistance sensors (Part 2). Practice of anti-corrosion protection, Vol. 29. No. 2. P. 21–26. https://doi.org/10.31615/j.corros.prot.2024.112.2-2

7. Rybalka K.V., Beketaeva L.A., Davydov A.D. (2019). Determination of corrosion rate of AISI 304 steel in HCl solutions by measuring the ohmic resistance of the test sample. Russian journal of electrochemistry, Vol. 55. No. 9. P. 1147–1152. DOI: 10.1134/S0424857019080139. EDN: SLQAKY.

8. Telkov V.P., Sitdikov S.S. (2023). Features of acid treatment of wells in complex geological and field conditions: taking into account well and near-wellbore zone properties. SOCAR Proceedings. No. 4. P. 106–115. DOI: 10.5510/OGP20230400923.

9. Yudin P.E. (2025). Functional coatings for submersible oilfield equipment for protection against corrosion, asphaltene–resin–paraffin and salt deposits: A review. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedenii. Powder metallurgy and functional coatings. Vol. 19. No. 1. P. 58–74. DOI: 10.17073/1997-308X-2025-1-58-74.

10. Altwaiq A., Khouri S., Abdel-Rahem R., Alkhawaldeh A. (2020). Conductivity method as a new monitoring technique for corrosion and corrosion inhibition processes of zinc metal. American journal of analytical chemistry. P. 349–361. DOI: 10.4236/ajac.2020.1110028