International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)
Volume 10, Issue 04, April 2019, pp. 2207–2215, Article ID: IJCIET_10_04_229
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijmet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=4
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
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STUDYING THE EFFECT OF ADDING
ANTIMONY (SB) TO THE LEAD BASE ALLOYS
ON CORROSION IN ACIDIC MEDIUMS
Aysha Shawkat Hasan, Yousif Khudhair Abbas and Nawzad Jalal Mahmood
Northern University, Technical College/Kirkuk
ABSTRACT
Due to the toxicity and harmful environmental effect of (Pb) because the potential
electrode values tendency to losses ions and oxidization, Antimony adding impact in
the range of (2-15) wt. % to lead on the corrosion resistance, in three concentration
of acidic acid solution with corrosion interval (288 hour), were investigated by
weight loss measurements. The experimental results show that, antimony added to
lead increase the corrosion resistance of lead, therefore the maximum total corrosion
rate done in alloy1 for all concentration which used in previous work. It was
(1.77133E-17MPY) for 0.1MHCl, (1.73E-17MPY) for 0.2MHCl and was (1.389E17MPY) for 0.3MHCl. Meanwhile the minimum total corrosion rate was in alloy4 for
all concentration, it was (1.57E-17MPY) for 0.1MHCl, (1.39E-17MPY) for 0.2MHCl
and (1.24E-17MPY) for 0.3MHCl. The general total corrosion rates degrease with
increasing the concentration of corrosion medium, and the maximum average
corrosion rates were in 0.1MHCl, wherever the minimum average corrosion rates
were in 0.3MHCl.Howeve, the alloy (15%Sb-83.35%Pb) didn’t show the significant
effect in corrosion resistance proportion to high Antimony contents comparison with
the three first alloys.
Key words: Lead, Antimony, Corrosion rates, weight losses
Cite this Article: Aysha Shawkat Hasan, Yousif Khudhair Abbas and Nawzad Jalal
Mahmood, Studying the Effect of Adding Antimony (Sb) to the Lead Base Alloys on
Corrosion in Acidic Mediums, International Journal of Civil Engineering and
Technology 10(4), 2019, pp. 2207–2215.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=4
1. INTRODUCTION
Lead-antimony alloys are widely used in batteries. The metastable alloys are finding
application in many industries like electronics and electrochemical, etc. (1). Some additive
can be used to increase the strength and improve the castabilty of the pure lead due to its
weakness, and antimony is added to improve the corrosion resistance (2). Lead is still the
material of choice for use in ammunition despite concerns over its environmental impact. Its
density, malleability and ready availability gives lead significant ballistic, production and cost
advantages over substitute materials (3). In commercial application pure lead is never used,
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Aysha Shawkat Hasan, Yousif Khudhair Abbas and Nawzad Jalal Mahmood
because the it is very soft and has high ductility, therefore its rarely used in alloys form.
Alloying elements like Antimony, Calcium, Tin & Arsenic most common. Antimony
generally is used to increase the mechanical properties, and its percentages in lead-antimony
alloys from (0.5- 25%), however the range is (2 - 5 is the famous (4). Copper & Zinc
containing Lead is good for mechanical properties and structural stability at high temperature.
Lead-Antimony alloys have high corrosion resistance, they form a protective impermeable
layer faster than a pure Lead. Lead alloys with more than 13% containing Antimony are rarely
used because they are very brittle and don’t have high corrosion resistance (5).
Several studies were done on the lead and its alloys. Ezenwa (6) was studied the
improvement of the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of Lead-Antimony alloy
by adding the Sn to it, the obtained results shows the addition was increase the tensile
strength, hardness & the corrosion resistance . Meanwhile the effect of sulfur addition to (PbSb-As-S) alloy in (H2SO4 ) solution were research by different methods like Linear sweep
voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry and weight loss methods at room temperature by Ghasemi
& Tizpar (2) was studied on the corrosion resistance, electrochemical properties and gas
evolution, and the new alloy show high corrosion resistance. Oxygen and hydrogen over
potentials estimation were greater than the specimens without Sulfur. The results show the
Sulfur enlarge the anodic layer on the surface of (Pb-Sb-As) alloy, therefore the reaction
impedance growth. Also the impact of this additive saw in the hardness batteries discharge
capacities. Also Nwoye (7) was reported the increases of impact strength and hardness of (PbSb) melt with Copper powder dispersion when cooled. From the obtained results he show that
increasing in the mechanical properties was due to using the pure Copper powder.
The aim of this research the effect of adding Antimony with different percentages to Lead
with availability of Copper & Zinc at constant percentages and its effect on corrosion or
erosion by weight losses method was studied immersing the alloys in HCl solution with three
different concentrations.
2. CASTING OF ALLOYS
The lead, zinc, copper and antimony metals were brought from the state batteries
manufacturing company with 99.9% purity. The manufacturing of samples by gravity casting
procedure included:

Weighting the alloying elements by using a sensitive balance with an accuracy of +0.0001 mg.

Using an electrical furnace, the melting procedure was firstly performed by melting the lead,
using an alumina crucible which was pre-heated in the furnace then the addition of the other
elements was carried out at (650oC) holding temperature.

During the addition of alloying elements to the molten lead, a manual stirring with a stainless
steel rod was applied carefully to avoid producing too much dross.

Pouring the molten alloys into a steel mould shown in figure (1) and then leaving the casting
to cool to the room temperature.

Four castings of lead-base white metals were manufactured with different additives. The
preliminary chemical compositions were contained in table (1).
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Studying the Effect of Adding Antimony (Sb) to the Lead Base Alloys on Corrosion in Acidic Mediums
Figure 1 Shows the dimensions of the gravity die mould (All dimensions in mm)
Table 1 The preliminary chemical composition of the project samples
Sample code
%Cu
%Zn
Alloy1
Alloy2
Alloy3
Alloy4
1
1
1
1
0.65
0.65
0.65
0.65
Additive
%Sb
2
3
4
15
Rest %Pb
96.35
95.35
94.35
83.35
3. PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS FOR CORROSION TESTS
1-The preparation procedure included turning specimens with the diameter (15mm) and
length (13.5mm) for all specimens used in previous work.
2- After the specimen preparations for corrosion test the following mediums were prepared to
immerse the specimens for variable times as shown in table (2), then the specimens were
tested by weight loss method by using a 4-digital balance:
Table 2 The chemical cleaning mediums (8).
Specimen No.
Medium
1A
2B
3C
4D
1A
2B
3C
4D
1A
2B
3C
4D
0.1 M HCl
Time
Hrs.
Intervals of corrosion
tests
288 hours
0.2 M HCl
24
Cleaning solution
100 ml -CH3COOH + 1000
ml distilled water(Boiled)
Immersed for 5 minutes for
each cleaning.
0.3 M HCl
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Aysha Shawkat Hasan, Yousif Khudhair Abbas and Nawzad Jalal Mahmood
2. Wet grinding.
Grinding was performed by using emery paper with grades (220, 400, 800and 1000)(10).
3. Polishing.
The polishing process was carried out by using alumina particles with size 0.3 μm, then
specimens cleaned with water degreased with ethanol and dried (9).
4. DEVICES AND TOOLS USED IN THE PROCEDURE
1- Electric furnace.
2- Graphite crucible (1/2 Kg).
3- Digital balance (4-digits).
4- Hand saw.
5- Grinding and polishing machine.
6- Alumina solution (with particle diameters of 0.35 μm).
7- Clamp for handling the graphite crucible.
8- Volumetric flasks with different volume.
9- Container for storing specimens.
10- Drier machine for drying specimens.
11- Electric heater for boiling the mediums for cleaning.
12- Carbon steel mould (die).
5. CORROSION MEDIUM
After prepare the specimens for corrosion test, the specimens marked to recognize one from
another and immersion in selected medium in backer with (1000 mm) capacity. Three
mediums used to corrosion tests in this work:
1-0.1M HCL.
2-0.2M HCL.
3-0.3M HCL.
6. CORROSION RATES CALCULATIONS
To calculate the corrosion rates, when the corrosion tests finished the samples taken from the
corrosion mediums and cleaned from the oxidation layers which caused due to test using
smooth brush and then cleaning the surfaces by chemical cleaning suitable to the alloys
shown in table (2), then followed by washing, drying and weighing the samples. These steps
was repeated at the end of each interval of corrosion test to know the weight difference which
caused by the corrosion, and the interval of corrosion mediums was (288hour). To calculate
the corrosion rate following equation used(10):
Corrosion rates (Miles per year) =
⁄
(1)
Where 534: Constant
W: The weight losses in (mg).
D: The specimens density in (g/cm3), (11.27) for alloy1 & 2, (11.04) for alloy 3 & (10.66)
for alloy 4 (11).
A: The specimen’s area in (Sq. in).
T: The exposure time to corrosion medium in (hour).
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Studying the Effect of Adding Antimony (Sb) to the Lead Base Alloys on Corrosion in Acidic Mediums
In the previous work the corrosion rate equation also used to calculate the total corrosion
rates (CrT). The difference was in substitution of weight and time, where weight was the
difference between initial & final weight, meanwhile the time overall time of corrosion
interval (288hr)(12).
7. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The following results were obtained
The four alloys which immersed in (0.1M HCL), show the maximum corrosion rates in the
beginning corrosion intervals and the corrosion rates decrease with increasing exposure time
to corrosion mediums, and all these and this behaviors for alloy 1,2,3, &4 clearly shown in
figure(, (1, 2, 3 & 4) respectively.
Corrosion Rates ( MPY)
Corrrosion Rates ( MPY)

0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0
100
200
300
0
400
100
200
300
400
Time ( Hour)
Time (Hour)
Corrosion Rates (Mpy)
Corrosion Rates ( MPY)
Figure 1 Represent the corrosion rate for alloy (1) Figure 2:Represent the corrosion rate for alloy (2) in
in 0.1M
0.1M
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0
100
200
300
400
0
Time(Hour)
100
200
300
400
Time (Hour)
Figure 3:Represent the corrosion rate for alloy (3) Figure 4 :Represent the corrosion rate for alloy (4) in
in 0.1M
0.1M

The four alloys which immersed in (0.2M HCL), show the maximum corrosion rates in the
beginning corrosion intervals and the corrosion rates decrease with increasing exposure time
to corrosion mediums, and all these and this behaviors for alloy 1,2,3, &4 clearly shown in
figure(5, 6, 7&8) respectively.
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Corrosion Rates( MPY)
Corrosion Rates(MPY)
Aysha Shawkat Hasan, Yousif Khudhair Abbas and Nawzad Jalal Mahmood
0.00E+00
0
100
200
300
0.00E+00
400
0
100
Time (Hour)
200
300
400
Time (Hour)
Corrosion Rates (MPY)
Corrosion Rates (MPY)
Figure 5:Represent the corrosion rate for alloy (1) in Figure 6 Represent the corrosion rate for alloy (2) in 0.2M
0.2M
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0
100
200
300
400
0
100
Time( Hour)
200
300
400
Time (Hour)
Figure 7 Represent the corrosion rate for alloy (3) in Figure 8 Represent the corrosion rate for alloy (4) in 0.2M
0.2M
The four alloys which immersed in (0.3M HCL), show the maximum corrosion rates in the
beginning corrosion intervals and the corrosion rates decrease with increasing exposure time
to corrosion mediums, and all these and this behaviors for alloy 1,2,3, &4 clearly shown in
figure(9, 10, 11 & 12) respectively.
Corrosion Rates (MPY)
Corrosion Rates (MPY)

0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0
100
200
300
400
0
Time ( Hour)
100
200
300
400
Time (Hour)
Figure 9 Represent the corrosion rate for alloy (1) Figure 10 Represent the corrosion rate for alloy (2)
in 0.3M
in 0.3M
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Corrosion Rates ( MPY)
Corrosion Rates ( MPY)
Studying the Effect of Adding Antimony (Sb) to the Lead Base Alloys on Corrosion in Acidic Mediums
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0
100
200
300
0
400
200
300
400
Time (Hour))
Time (Hour)
Figure 11 Represent the corrosion rate for alloy
(3) in 0.3M
100
Figure 12 Represent the corrosion rate for alloy (4)
in 0.3M

The possible reason for the low corrosion rates with increasing exposure to the medium of
corrosion for all alloys which used in previous work due to the slow time speed of
electrochemical interaction with continuously exposure to the corroded medium causes layer
formation from membrane or remnants of corrosion on specimens surfaces prevent the
electrochemical corrosion continuation which leads to reduce rates of the corrosion. Also
because of the polarization happened, at the beginning of the corrosion the electrochemical
interaction will be quickly lead to a high erosion rates, but with the time depletion of dissolved
oxygen in the medium of corrosion, that leading to increase the concentration of hydrogen
ions that accumulate on the lift pole referring to studies and researchers in (13 & 14).

In general the maximum total corrosion rate done in alloy (1) for all concentration which used
in previous work. It was (1.77133E-17MPY) for 0.1MHCl, (1.75E-17MPY) for 0.2MHCl and
was (1.389E-17MPY) for 0.3MHCl. Meanwhile the minimum total corrosion rate was in alloy
(4) for all concentration, it was (1.57E-17MPY) for 0.1MHCl, (1.39E-17MPY) for 0.2MHCl
and (1.24E-17MPY) for 0.3MHCl. All these behaviors for alloy 1, 2, 3, &4 for three
concentrations clearly shown in figure (13). The possible reason for this because the alloy (1)
has the maximum content of Lead (96.5), Lead tend to oxidize due to its electrode potential (0.126v), , the increasing in Antimony percentages caused decreasing in total corrosion rates
due to its electrode potential (+0.11v) which is less active, referring to studies and researchers
in (3).

From the obtained results, there weren’t significant effect of high Antimony content in alloy
which represent in alloy (4) (5). And figure (13) can clearly shows these behaviors.
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Corrosion Rates /MPY)
Aysha Shawkat Hasan, Yousif Khudhair Abbas and Nawzad Jalal Mahmood
0.00E+00
Alloy 1
0.1M
1.77E-17
0.2M
1.73E-17
0.3M
1.39E-17
Alloy 2
1.70E-17
1.63E-17
1.35E-17
Alloy 3
1.65E-17
1.45E-17
1.33E-17
Alloy 4
1.57E-17
1.39E-17
1.24E-17
Figure 13 Total Corrosion Rates for four Alloys in three concentration mediums

The maximum average corrosion rates were in 0.1MHCl, wherever the minimum average
corrosion rates were in 0.3MHCl. The figure (14) shows these behaviors. The possible reason
of this behavior was because the high resistance electrolyte film which covered the corroded
areas, so they cannot be polarized to the full cathodic protection potential (15).
Avarage in 0.2MHCL
Avarage in 0.3MHCL
Corrosion Rates(Mpy)
Avarage in 0.1MHCL
0.00E+00
24
48
72
96
120
144
168
192
216
240
264
288
Time(hours)
Figure 14 The general corrosion rates for four alloys in three acidic concentration medium.
8. CONCLUSIONS

The results were obtained for the three alloys with (2-4%Sb) which immersed in three
concentration corrosive acidic medium, obviously display that the erosion effort exist more
attacker, due to the following order of corrosion activity:
Alloy1 > Alloy 2> Alloy 3> Alloy 4
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Studying the Effect of Adding Antimony (Sb) to the Lead Base Alloys on Corrosion in Acidic Mediums

The increasing in the interval of the corrosion time decreasing in the corrosion rate because of
the layer formation which caused by the slow time speed of electrochemical interaction with
continued exposure.

The general total corrosion rates degrease with increasing the concentration of corrosion
medium.

The corrosion rate decreasing with increasing the Antimony percentages or contains in alloys
for the three first alloys. However for the fourth alloys with (15%Sb-83.35%Pb) didn’t shows
the significant effect in corrosion rates.
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