Scaling and macro-fouling experienced by seawater cooling system components aboard U.S. Navy ships results in extensive downtime and manpower expenditures. Cleaning methods previously approved are either not cost effective or have environmental safety issues associated with their use.
Several commercially available products for use in removing seawater system scale have been identified. The current research was to determine the effects of a phosphoric acid- based solvent on 70/30 copper-nickel, and in particular, the reformation of protective films, following cleaning with full strength solvent.
Like previous descalants tested, copper nickel (CuNi) alloys cleaned in phosphoric acid-based solvents lose any existing protective layer. However, the protective layer will reform upon prolonged exposure to clean seawater and reformation tends to be slower than that in other types of descaling solvents.
Keywords: descaling, copper-nickel, phosphoric acid, protective film, fouling