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CORROSION I
Stphany Ayon, Quentin Ainses, Romain Rivire et Guillaume Trotoux

Contents

I) The electrochemical process

II) Different forms of corrosion

First analysis

Definition :
Corrosion is a process in which,
the steel is eaten away and
changed by a chemical action, as
in the oxydation of iron in the
presence of water by an
electrolytic process
Little cracks at the surface Extension
of those cracks Slight traces of rust
The corroded reinforcement appears
when slivers of concrete fall down.
Steel : Anodic oxydation
Concrete : Cathodic reduction

There is a delay between the

beginning of the process and the
appearance of the damage.

Electrochemical concept

Heterogeneity creates a potential difference which leads to a

displacement of electrons ( impurity, constitution, surface,
structure, environment)
The hydrogen electrod is the reference in the calculation
Nernst equation :
Gives the equilibrium potential compared to the standard potential
Evans and Tafel diagrams, and Faradays law () enable to
determine the maximal speed of the corrosion.

3 possibilities for passivable steel :

Active (Uniform corrosion)
Passive (No corrosion)
Unstable passivity (No corrosion until
the passive layer is inert)

Electrochemical context

The depassivation of the steel

caused by the carbonatation
leads to the corrosion of the
steel.
Some causes are:
A too significant porosity
or a bad vibration of the
concrete,
bad
climatic
conditions
Reinforcement too close to
the surface
Structural cracks taken by
oxygen
=>
leads
to
formation of iron salts
Weakness in the reinforced concrete = Weakness in the building

Different forms

Uniform corrosion:
It is characterized by the existance of several individual electrochimical
process which are produced over the entire surface considered.
It results :
A decrease of the thickness
A uniform deposit.
Uniform corrosion can be reduced or prevented
by :
An appropriate choice of material,
Environmental modification,
Cathodic protection.

Different forms

Galvanic corrosion:
Galvanic corrosion results of contact between two different
metals, in a corrosive environment.
2 different metals immersed in the same solution, an electrical
current will be set up. An increase in corrosion is generally
observed in the less noble alloy.

Means of preventing galvanic corrosion.

Different forms

Crevice corrosion:
This attack is associated with the
presence of small volumes of stagnant
solution in occluded interstices.
Crevice corrosion is encountered in
metals which depends on the stability
of a passive film which are unstable in
the presence of high concentrations of
Cl- and H+ ions.
oxygen reduction reaction
autocatalytic process

Means of preventing crevice corrosion

Different forms

Pitting corrosion :
The attack can penetrate inwards
extremely rapidly, while the rest of the
surface remains intact.
Pitting corrosion is more aggressive in
solutions containing chloride, bromide
or hypochlorite ions. Stainless steels are
particularly
sensitive
to
pitting
Corrosion.
Coupling exists between discontinuous
zones.

Means of preventing crevice corrosion

Different forms

Intergranular Corrosion:
This type of corrosion is due to the presence of impurities in the
boundaries.
The grain boundaries can undergo marked localized attack while
the rest of the material remains unaffected.
The alloy disintegrates and
loses
its
mechanical
properties
Corrosion
phenomenon
observed is intergranular
in nature.

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Different forms

Selective Corrosion:
This process involves the selective
dissolution of one of the elements.
Most known: dezincification
The brass takes on a red coppery
tinge as the zinc is removed.
It also becomes porous and very
brittle, without modification to the
overall dimensions of the part.

This problem can be overcome by

choosing an alloy that is less prone.

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Different forms

Erosion-corrosion:
Is produced by the relative movement of a corrosive fluid and a
metal surface. The mechanical aspect of the movement is
important, and the friction and wear phenomena may be involved.
Most metals and alloys are concerned, particularly soft metals
(copper, lead ...) or those whose corrosion resistance depends on
the existence of a surface film.

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Different forms

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC):

Is a process involving the initiation of cracks and their
propagation, possibly up to complete failure of a component, due
to the combined action of tensile mechanical loading and a
corrosive medium. Indeed, it is the presence of tensile stresses
that is dangerous, while compressive stresses exert a protective
influence.

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Different forms

Hydrogen embrittlement:
The presence of hydrogen in a metal lattice cans cause significant
damage to the metal with catastrophic drop of its mechanical
properties. Delayed fracture of steel is the most classic example.
Once it has entered the lattice, the hydrogen atom can cause
several types of damage:
Precipitation of brittle hydrides
Recombination to molecular hydrogen
Hydrogen embrittlement

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References

Rapport de lAFGC Rhabilitation du bton arm dgrad par

la corrosion
Eurocode Classification des attaques
http://www.cdcorrosion.com/
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89quation_de_Nernst
http://www.ma.auf.org/corrosion/CE.htm

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Different forms

Thank you for your attention

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