Surface properties of anti-fouling and corrosion-resistant coatings at the hydrocarbon-steel interface

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Fouling and corrosion are the two most detrimental processes to the efficient operation of an oil refinery. In fouling, solid materials either naturally present, carried downstream, or formed in crude oil adhere to steel surfaces. This can block the flow of oil leading to catastrophic failures, but may also compromise the thermal properties of heat exchangers, leading to increased energy costs in addition to more frequent maintenance. Corrosion occurs as a result of impurities or native materials in the oil, and subsequently damages the integrity of steel components. Together, these deleterious effects cost Canadian refineries millions of dollars annually. Among the strategies used to mitigate the effects of fouling and corrosion are the application and formation of coatings for the steel surfaces. Many materials have been suggested and used to form these protective barriers, but knowledge of how they perform on a molecular level is incomplete. A detailed understanding of their structure and function is essential in order to improve coating performance, minimize cost, reduce the amount of chemicals required, and increase the time between maintenance and replacement of steel components in refineries. This proposal utilizes a structure- and surface-sensitive technique to probe the detailed interactions between oil, common foulants, steel, and two types of protective coatings.