Mathematical Modelling of Corrosion for Polymers

The material of pipelines transporting water is usually polymers. Chlorine as oxidant agent is added into the water system to prevent the spread of some disease. However, exposure to a chlorinated environment could lead to polymer pipe degradation and crack formation which ultimately reaches a complete failure for the pipes. To save labor, time and operating cost for predicting a failure time for a polymer pipe, we focus on its modeling and simulation. A current kinetic model for the corrosion process of polymers due to the action of chlorine is extensively analyzed from the mathematical point of view. By using the nondimensionalization method, the number of parameters in the original governing equations of the kinetic model has been reduced. Then, the dimensionless set of differential equations is numerically solved by the Runge Kutta method. There are two sets of simulations which are low chlorine concentration and high chlorine concentration, and we captured some essential characteristics for both types. This approach enables us to obtain better predictive capabilities, hence increasing our understanding of the corrosion process.