Effect of DC Currents and Strain on Corrosion of X80 Steel in a Near-Neutral Environment

Abstract

The corrosion behavior of X80 steel in a near-neutral soil-simulated solution under various DC stray currents and applied strains was investigated using electrochemical measurements (open circuit potential, linear polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and surface analysis techniques. Our results show that a DC stray current has a substantially greater effect on steel corrosion compared to applied strain. However, strain could slow down the corrosion rate in specific conditions by affecting the composition of corrosion products and the structure of the corrosion scale on the surface of the steel. Although the porosity of the corrosion scale of steel without an applied strain will increase with increasing DC currents, once strain is applied, the corrosion scale will become denser. Furthermore, both DC currents and strain can promote steel pitting, and the number and size of pitting holes will increase significantly with an increase in current densities.