Understanding of low-carbon steel marine corrosion through simulation in artificial seawater

The current laboratory experiments investigated the corrosion resistance of carbon steel in artificial seawater (ASW) using the steel coupons hanging on a closed glass reactor of ASW with volume-to-specimen area ratios ranging from 0.20 to 0.40 mL/mm². These coupons were immersed in ASW for varying time durations (7 and 14 d) at room temperature without agitation. Further, the corrosion rates based on the weight loss and electrochemical analytical method were determined. Following exposure to carbon steel for 7 and 14 d, corrosion rates were 0.2780 mmpy and 0.3092 mmpy, respectively. The surfaces appeared to be not protected by oxides based on this result. The electrochemical impedance spectrometer in potentiostatic/galvanostatic mode, in conjunction with EDX analysis, predicted the evolution of oxygen reduction. The 7th-day immersion sample had a higher oxygen content, and the 14th-day immersion sample had a slightly lower oxygen content. Methods of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterized the surface morphology and composition of their corrosion product. Corrosion products derived from rust minerals hematite, lepidocrocite and magnetite appeared to cover the carbon steel surface after exposure. This result can get insight into the corrosion behavior of low-carbon steel used in marine environments.