Electrochemical behaviour of high-strength corrugated steel in aerated alkaline mediums

In this study, the high-strength corrugated steel wire with a diameter of 7.6 mm was subjected to different aerated alkaline mediums (pH8.2, 12.3 and 13.4) with different concentration of Cl-. The electrochemical cell was consisted of a working electrode, an auxiliary electrode and a reference electrode, which was the steel wire, the graphite rod and the Ag/AgCl in KCl saturated, respectively. The open circuit potential measurement that lasted for 8 hours and the potentiodynamic polarization measurement from -900 mV to +500 mV were performed on the steel in each different medium and Cl- concentration. After the measurement, the steel surface was examined under the light microscope to find out the types of corrosions that occurred on the steel. Regardless of the Cl- concentration, it is found that at the medium of pH8.2 general corrosions are seen on the steel surface, at pH12.3 pitting corrosions, while at pH13.4 no corrosion is observed on the steel.