PhD Studentship: Unravelling the role of corrosion products in the localised corrosion of large-scale energy system infrastructure

Lead Supervisor’s full name & email address:

Professor Richard Barker – r.j.barker@leeds.ac.uk

Co-supervisor name(s) & email address(s)

Dr Joshua Owen – j.j.owen@leeds.ac.uk

Project summary

Carbon dioxide (CO2) corrosion of carbon steel is a degradation mechanism observed across mature and new energy systems, as well as carbon abatement technologies such as Carbon Capture and Storage. The prevalence of this corrosion process is such that it continues to receive unprecedented research attention spanning the last 50 years.

Despite extensive research activity, the understanding of internal localised corrosion of carbon steel infrastructure, such as pipelines, remains limited. One popular theory to explain localised corrosion relates to the macroscopic differences in surface condition on the internal pipeline wall, generated through the local formation of corrosion products which possess semi-protective properties.

This PhD project, in collaboration with Qatar Environmental and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and Shell Qatar, seeks to unravel this theory, examining the role of different corrosion products in their ability to initiate and/or sustain localised corrosion. Importantly, the project will devise/identify effective forms of chemical treatment which are able to adequately prevent initiation of localised corrosion or suppress existing levels of attack.

The PhD researcher will become part of the Corrosion and Mineral Scaling Research Team within the Institute of Functional Surfaces (University of Leeds), a vibrant and diverse research group with expertise in electrochemistry, material characterisation and interfacial science. As part of the project, the researcher will use bespoke corrosion test cells and implement electrochemical measurements to understand corrosion mechanisms in detail. The researcher will gain exposure to a wide range of microscopic and spectroscopic techniques to examine the interaction of corrosion inhibitors with surfaces. Both national and international travel to conferences to present and disseminate research will be actively encouraged, with significant funding available as part of the project.

Please state your entry requirements plus any necessary or desired background

Bachelor Degree with 2:1 or above or equivalent

Subject Area

Electrochemistry, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering

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