ABSTRACT

The weathering steel (Corten B) was exposed to out-door atmosphere of Hanoi (urban site) and Donghoi (marine site). The results showed the protective ability of corrosion product layer formed on weathering steel in the initial stage. The SEM-EDX analysis detected the presence of chromium and copper in the inner layers of corrosion product formed on weathering steel. These elements improved corrosion resistance of corrosion product layers. In addition, the dense α-FeOOH phase were appeared early in corrosion product which is detected by X-ray diffraction and Micro Raman investigations. The results of polarization and EIS measurements also demonstrated the protectiveness of the corrosion product of weathering steel.

1. Introduction

There are many works studying on protectiveness of rust layer formed on weathering steel (WS) exposed to atmosphere and following results were reported [1-9]. The main phases of rust are different oxy-hydroxides as α- FeOOH (goethite), β-FeOOH (akaganeite) and γ-FeOOH (lepidocrocite), some spinel type of iron oxides such as magnetite Fe₃O₄ are contained in the rust layer depending on environmental condition. Among them α-FeOOH forms a dense packed and uniform layer of nano-sized particles, which are closely attached to the under-laying steel substrate. The corrosion protective ability of WS is mainly attributed to this dense α-phase whose formation is stimulated by dry-wet-dry cycling. In addition, the enhanced corrosion resistance of WS is achieved by adding alloying elements in which copper (Cu) has the most pronounced beneficial effect. Cu may retard anodic dissolution of iron or decrease the electronics conductivity of the rust layer so that the flow rate of electrons reaching the sites for the cathodic reaction is decrease. As with copper, nickel (Ni) can form small amounts of relatively protective hydroxy-sulfates. Like copper hydroxyl-sulfates, they may improve the barrier effect by clogging pores of the corrosion product (CP) layer. Chromium (Cr) results in substitution of iron (Fe) by Cr in the α-phase, so that a densely packed layer of nanosize of α-(Fe_1−xCr_x)OOH is formed and mainly contributes to the long term stability of WS [1]. In the early stage of CP formation Cr, P and Cu have been observed in the layer of CP closest to the substrate.

This paper introduces the results of exposing WS to outdoor atmosphere in very early stage (1 - 30 days), the formation and protective characteristics of corrosion product are investigated and discussed.

2. Experimental Method

The samples of WS and carbon steel (CS) with size of 100 × 75 mm were exposure to urban atmosphere (Hanoi) and to coastal atmosphere (Donghoi), their positions are shown in Figure 1. At Hanoi site the samples were put on the racks faced to the South and at Donghoi site-faced to the sea. The samples were taken off after 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 days, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months.

The corrosion rate (CR) was determined by mass loss of samples after removing CP according to ISO standard 8407 [10].

The environmental parameters (Table 1) were collected during exposure time as follows: air temperature (T) and air relative humidity (RH) were obtained at the meteorological stations near by the exposure sites, the chloride deposition rate (Cl⁻) was determined by “wet candle” method according to ISO 9225 [11].

The characteristics of corrosion product (rust) formed on WS were investigated using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction and MicroRaman techniques as well as measuring polarization curves and Electro-chemical Impedance Scope (EIS).

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Environmental Characteristics of Test Sites

As showed in the Figure 1, Hanoi is a big city that is located in the North of Vietnam and about 100 km far from the sea, whereas Donghoi is a tow in the middle of Vietnam with the exposure site located about 0.3 km from the sea-shore.

The annual average values of main environmental parameters at the exposure sites are given in Table 1. It can be seen that RH, time of wetness (TOW), total of rain fall (Rf) as well as chloride deposition rate at Donghoi are

higher than those at Hanoi, these accelerate corrosion process at the beginning. The variation of T and RH at test sites in the first month-exposure is shown in Figure 2.

The exposure started in April (end of spring), during this time RH at Donghoi are higher than those at Hanoi, the Cl⁻ deposition rate at Donghoi and Hanoi is 15 and 3 mg/m²∙day, respectively. When exposure was started RH values at Donghoi were very high (>90%) whereas at Hanoi—a little bit lower (80% - 90%).

3.2. Corrosion Behavior of Weathering Steel

The initial CR of WS is very high, however it reduces with exposure-time due to the formation of CP on the sample surface. In first year the CR of WS at Hanoi is similar to that of CS, and then it decreases faster and becomes lower in comparison with CS (Figure 3). The difference is expressed more clearly at Donghoi site where CR of WS is always smaller than that of CS. This can be explained by the faster formation of protective layer contained ion of Cu and Cr on WS samples exposed to Donghoi which is perhaps promoted by high humidity as discussed below.

3.3. Characteristics of Corrosion Products (Rust) on Weathering Steel

3.3.1. The Morphology of Rust

Figures 4 and 5 show the behavior of sample surface after 1, 3, 7, 14, 30-day-exposure. It can be seen that at Donghoi the rust formed just after fist day as spots distributing on all substrate, while at Hanoi the steel base almost was not corroded. After three days the rust spread out almost surface of samples exposed at Hanoi, but at Donghoi it developed into the bigger spots that characterizes corrosion in environment with chloride. After one month, at both sites the rust completely covered surface of samples.

3.3.2. The Chemical Element Composition of Rust

As showed in the literatures [1-9] the corrosion protective ability of WS is mainly attributed to the dense α- phase as well as presence of Cu and Cr in the rust. Therefore the outer layer of rust was uncovered in order to determine the chemical composition of the inner layer.

The results (Figures 6-8 and Table 2) show the

presence of Cr and Cu in the rust; Cr appeared sooner than Cu did. Just after first-day-exposure Cr was detected in the rust formed at both two sites, however it appeared only as traces on the sample exposed to Hanoi (with very low intensity of peak signed by “*” signal), at that time Cu was present weakly in the rust formed at Donghoi (Figure 6). After three days, Cr was found clearly in the rust formed at Hanoi (Figure 7), and after 7 day-exposure both Cr and Cu appeared clearly in the rust formed at Hanoi as well as Donghoi (Figure 8).

The EDX line scan analysis was performed on the cross-section of rust formed on the sample exposed for one month at Donghoi (Figure 9). It is recognized that Cr and Cu existed mainly in the inner layer, especially Cu was detected only at the positions closest steel substrate. This is confirmed by the results given in the publication [1-9]. Copper is effective to impede the crystallization of α-FeOOH phase and chromium presumably suppress the formation of Fe_3−δO₄ [3,6], besides, Cr results in the substitution of iron by Cr in the α-phase, so that a dense packed layer of nano-size of α-(Fe_1−xCr_x) OOH was formed and contributes to the long term stability of WS [1]. It is noticeable that the very high RH at the beginning of exposure perhaps stimulated so early

existence of these alloyed elements.

3.3.3. The Chemical Compound Composition of Rust

The XRD analysis was done for rust formed in initial stage of exposure, the results showed that the main phases formed in the rust of WS tested in Hanoi and Donghoi are α-FeOOH (goethite), β-FeOOH (akaganeite) and γ-FeOOH (lepidocrocite). Among them lepidocrocite is dominant and was detected on all tested samples. The α-FeOOH phase is considered mainly to contributed to corrosion-protective ability of WS [1,5,6]. In addition, the relative insoluble copper hydroxyl-sulfate was also detected in the rust, according to [1] these compounds can precipitate in the pores of rust, thereby improving the barrier effect of CP layer.

The results of Micro Raman analysis of the rust (Figures 10 and 11) showed the presence of different iron hydro-oxides including goethite α-FeOOH. This phase appeared sooner on sample exposed at Donghoi than it did at Hanoi, the intensity of peak becomes more clear and sharp with exposure-time. These results are conformable to the XRD-data obtained above.

3.4. Electro-Chemical Properties of Corrosion Products on Weathering Steel

In order to determine the electrochemical stability of rust the electro-chemical investigations were performed in NaCl 0.1 M solution with electro-chemical cell of three electrodes: Pt counter, AgCl reference and working electrodes were sample surface covered with rust after 7, 14 and 30 days of exposure.

The polarization curves were measured with potential scan rate of 5 mV/s (Figure 12). The EIS measurement was conducted at the rest potential with amplitude of 10 mV, the frequency range covered from 10 KHz to 10 MHz. The results are given in the pictures 13 & 14. It can be seen that when the exposure time increased the corrosion potential became more positive, thereby the polarization curves shifted towards more positive potential direction. It might be due to the rust layer was more continuous and improved with exposure time. There is

one passive part the on anodic branch that expresses more or less protectiveness of rust layer (Figure 12).

The EIS results (Figures 13 and 14) show the enlargement of Nyquist circles with exposure-time that manifest the improvement of rust resistance as well as its protective ability. However it is too early to discuss the results of electrochemical investigation.

4. Conclusions

The exposure of WS to outdoor atmosphere of Vietnam was performed. The initial results of testing are as

follows:

• The EDX analyses detected the alloyed elements such as Cr and Cu in the rust formed in the early stage of exposure (1 - 7 days). These elements were found to be rich in the inner layer of rust (closest substrate surface).

• The main compounds of rust formed on WS exposed to Hanoi and Donghoi are α-FeOOH (goethite), β- FeOOH (akaganeite) and γ-FeOOH (lepidocrocite). Among them lepidocrocite is dominant and was detected on all tested samples. The dense α-FeOOH phase appeared very soon-just after one day exposure at Donghoi and after three days at Hanoi, in addition, the insoluble copper hydroxyl-sulphates were also detected in the rust. These results were confirmed by XRD and Micro Raman analyses.

• The early appearance of above stable phases perhaps was stimulated by rather high RH and wet/dry cycling

at test sites as soon as initiation of exposure, they contributed to the protective ability of rust that was showed more or less by polarization curves and EIS.

5. Acknowledgements

This work has been accomplished with sponsor of Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (Nafosted Vietnam), the authors would like to thank this support.

REFERENCES