In the scenario of a vessel clad with a stainless steel liner, what does a corrosion rate of 0.002 ipy for the corrosion tab imply about the SS liner's corrosion rate?

The question involves understanding the relationship between corrosion rates and the thickness of protective cladding, such as a stainless steel (SS) liner, on a pressure vessel. A corrosion tab that shows a corrosion rate of 0.002 inches per year (ipy) indicates that this is the measured rate of corrosion occurring at that particular site.

In assessing the corrosion rate of the stainless steel liner, it is essential to consider that the liner serves as a barrier to further corrosion of the underlying material. If the corrosion rate measured at the corrosion tab is 0.002 ipy, it suggests that the liner is effectively mitigating corrosion. It may be inferred that this corrosion rate pertains to either the liner itself or the underlying material. Since the cladding is intended to protect against corrosion, the implication is that the corrosion rate affecting the stainless steel liner would be lower than that of the corrosion tab.

Taking this into account, the most logical conclusion is that if the corrosion tab indicates a rate of 0.002 ipy, the SS liner's corrosion rate would indeed be a reduced figure, suggesting that it experiences a corrosion rate of 0.001 ipy as a protective measure. This understanding reflects the protective function of the stainless steel liner, which can decrease the