Pitting-Acceptance or Rejection

Presented by:
Mike Reeder

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 Pitting Corrosion

• Localized corrosion
of a metal surface
that is confined to
a small area
• Damages the deep
structure of the
metal
• Can help to initiate
stress corrosion
cracking
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 Localized Corrosion

• Causes the need for unplanned maintenance

• Often hidden in crevices or under multiple coats
of maintenance coatings
– Disguises the extent of the damage
• Can lead to serious consequences unless dealt
with properly and promptly
• Produce stress risers at the leading edge of the
pit that create initiation points for failure

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Corrosion

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Corrosion Cell

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Corrosion Cell

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Pitting Corrosion

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Steel Surface

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 Possible Causes

• Scratch
• Local change in
composition
• Damage to
protective coating
• Chlorides
• Mill Scale

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 Mill Scale

• Corrosion may be
encouraged by the
presence of mill scale.
• Mill scale is cathodic
to the substrate
• Mill scale promotes
corrosion at the
anodic bare steel
when moisture is
present

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Coating Failure

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 Soluble Salts

• Promote the breakdown of the oxide layer

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 Soluble Salt Remediation

• Water Jetting-What are the acceptable levels?

– PennDOT Specifies NV-2 unless the paint manufacture
has more stringent levels.

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 ASTM A6-13

• Conditioning:
– Shall be well faired without abrupt changes in contour
– Plate- Grinding can not reduce the thickness of the plate
by:
• More than 7% under the nominal thickness, but in no case
more than 1/8” for material ordered to weight per square
foot
• Below the permissible minimum thickness for plates
ordered to thickness
– Structural Size Shapes:
• 1/32” for material less than 3/8” in thickness
• 1/16” for material 3/8” to 2” thick
• 1/8” for material over 2” in thickness

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Depth/Thickness Measurments

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Severe Pitting-Is This Acceptable?

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 ASTM A6-13

• Note 4-Non-injurious surface or internal

imperfections, or both, may be present in the
structural product as delivered and the structural
products may require conditioning by the
purchaser to improve its appearance or in
preparation for welding, coating, or other further
operations.

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 Coating Concerns

• Cleanliness
• Surface Profile
• Sharp Edges
• Contamination
• Aesthetics

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Sharp Edges

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Aesthetics

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Aesthetics

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 Osmotic Blistering

• Salts draw moisture and form blisters that build

up internal pressure
• Forms a mild hydrochloric acid causing corrosion
and coating failure

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Service Life

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Questions?

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