Effect of Sb on the Corrosion Behavior of Low-Alloy Steels in a Simulated Polluted Marine Atmosphere

The effect of Sb on the corrosion resistance of low-alloy steels in a simulated polluted marine atmosphere was studied by electrochemical testing and weight loss measurements. The results showed that the addition of Sb could improve the corrosion resistance, which was confirmed by the increased polarization resistance of the steels that contained Sb. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of the surfaces indicated that Sb participated in the formation of corrosion products and formed Sb2O5 in the rust layers. In addition, the precipitation of Sb2O5 with iron oxyhydroxides made the rust layers more uniform and compact, which provided the Sb-containing steels with better corrosion resistance than the Sb-free Steel.