The figure shows a perforation in the bottom of a hypochlorite tank caused by liquid mercury lying on the bottom of the tank. The tank had a float valve that contained elemental mercury. The float valve failed mechanically releasing some amount of liquid mercury into the tank. Although the tank was epoxy coated, it nonetheless perforated in a few months time producing the hole in the picture. In the galvanic attack, the mercury deposit was the cathode and the steel was the anode.


(photo courtesy of U.S. Navy, 2002)


Liquid Mercury l Liquid Metal Embrittlement l Dental Amalgam Corrosion l Oil and Gas
Aqueous Corrosion l Copper LME