2021 Frank Newman Speller Award: Corrosion Mechanisms of Steel and Copper in Engineering Applications

Abstract

The main research lines of the scientific career of the author are herein, exemplified including corrosion and protection mechanisms of steel in different environments, and copper corrosion in climate systems. Stainless steel (SS) due to its high corrosion resistance is a material widely used for many engineering applications. Impedance measurements were performed on polarized specimens at the pitting region of Type 304 SS in environment containing chloride at 25°C and 60°C. The transfer function was analyzed, indicating instability system, corroborating results obtained using the Kramers-Kronig transforms. Steel reinforcement has been studied for structural applications in civil engineering and architecture using cementitious materials, alkaline-activated fly ash (AAFA), an alternative to the ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The main compounds used as corrosion inhibitors in concrete were included. Carbon steel embedded in OPC mortar was tested in the presence of phosphates as corrosion inhibitors. An organic lacquer was applied to tinplate with titanium-passivation treatment and, in general, acceptable and comparable behavior was obtained to conventional chromium-passivated lacquered tinplate. Copper is also a material used in many engineering applications. Ant-nest corrosion of copper tubing in air-conditioning systems has been reported. The copper corrosion rates occasioned by carboxylic acids, formic, acetic, propionic, and butyric, were included.