XPS Study of Carbon Steel Surface and Powder Formed On It after Corrosion in Sour Medium

This work studies the characterization of carbon steel surfaces and corrosion products powder formed on it after corrosion in stirred sour brine medium at 25°C. The experimental method used was x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The shape of each peak and the BE have been used (with appropriate sensitivity factors) to determine the composition of the surface and the composition of the powder formed after corrosion. The main compound found on the surface was FeCO3. The presence of FeS in the corrosion products powder and the lack of this component on the carbon steel surface confirm that FeCO₃ has been formed prior to FeS formation.