Galvanic Corrosion Between Graphitic Rock and Ground Support in Underground Mines

Details

• Personal Author:
  Feagan G ; Stazick C ; Suderman C
• Description:
  Galvanic corrosion between dissimilar materials, such as steel and graphite, leads to safety concerns for many industries, including mining. In this study, researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) analyzed rock samples from two mines in the United States that exhibit electrochemical properties similar to graphite through laboratory measurements to investigate their observed in-situ influence on underground metal support. Uniform corrosion rates of mild steel coupons, inflatable bolt coupons, and friction bolt coupons galvanically coupled to rock samples were obtained using both potentiodynamic polarization and zero resistance ammetry. Increased uniform corrosion rates were witnessed between the coupled rock and steel system, over those of just the steel alone. Surface analysis of the metal samples showed the presence of pitting corrosion, reflective of bolt samples removed from partner mines. Corrosion pitting of ground support structures in contact with graphitic rock in underground mines poses safety concerns for mine workers by increasing the rate of corrosion and decreasing bolt strength over time and will be further investigated for intervention strategies. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Corrosion Mining Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Corrosives Graphite Ground Control Ground Stability Mining Industry: Rock Mechanics Underground Mines
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISBN:
  9781713872368
• Publisher:
  Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  SMRD - Spokane Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067855
• Citation:
  MineXchange: 2023 SME Annual Conference and Expo, February 26-March 1, 2023, Denver, Colorado, preprint 23-004. Englewood, CO: Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, 2023 Feb; :1-7
• CAS Registry Number:
  Graphite (CAS RN 7782-42-5)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  MineXchange: 2023 SME Annual Conference and Expo, February 26-March 1, 2023, Denver, Colorado, preprint 23-004
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2eb67332ea6c8955d8ba774b8ddab1c3943ef23e49c8ea6ddf92766b81258dec16ecd449ab9b4d5905245038ba0c3fa7b1eeb0c01ae8068fd8a832445b54b284
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215603/cdc_215603_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 417.19 KB ]