Corrosion Behavior of Copper-Clad Steel Bars with Unclad Two-End Faces for Grounding Grids in the Red Clay Soil

Iron-aluminum oxides in the red soil have a significant impact on the corrosion behavior of the metal for grounding grids. Effects of iron-aluminum oxides on the corrosion behavior of the cross section of copper-clad steel in the red soil have been investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Tafel polarization. All the data indicate that the iron-aluminum oxides can promote the corrosion of copper-clad steel in the red soil. The corrosivity of the red soil greatly increases after iron-aluminum oxides are added into the soil. Iron-aluminum oxides promote galvanic corrosion of copper-clad steel and increase the corrosion degree of the center steel layer. The iron-aluminum oxides stimulate corrosion process of copper-clad steel acting as a cathodic depolarizing agent. XRD results further validate that the corrosion products of the copper-clad steel bar mainly consist of Fe3O4 and Cu2O.