Corrosion Activity of Carbon Steel B450C and Stainless Steel SS430 Exposed to Extract Solution of a Supersulfated Cement

Carbon steel B450C and low-chromium stainless steel SS430 were exposed for 30 days to supersulfated SS1 cement extract solution, considered as a green alternative for partial replacement of the Portland cement clinker. The initial pH of 12.38 dropped since the first day to 7.84, accompanied by a displacement to more negative values of the free corrosion potential (OCP) of the carbon steel up to approximate to-480.74 mV, giving the formation of gamma-FeOOH, alpha-FeOOH and Fe2O3, as suggested by XRD and XPS analysis. In the meantime, the OCP of the SS430 tended towards more positive values (+182.50 mV), although at lower pH, and XPS analysis revealed the presence of Cr(OH)(3) and FeO as corrosion products, as well the crystals of CaCO3, NaCl and KCl. On both surfaces, a localized corrosion attack was observed in the vicinity of local cathodes (Cu, Mn-carbides, Cr-nitrides, among others), influenced by the presence of Cl- ions in the SS1 extract solution, originating from the pumice. Two equivalent circuits were proposed for the quantitative analysis of EIS Nyquist and Bode diagrams, whose data were correlated with the OCP values and pH change in time of the SS1 extract solution. The thickness of the corrosion layer formed on the SS430 surface was approximate to 0.8 nm, while that on the B450C layer was approximate to 0.3 nm.

Automated summary

In the supersulfated cement extract solution, both carbon steel and low-chromium stainless steel surfaces were corroded, but different corrosion products were formed at different pH values. The thickness of the corrosion layer also varied.