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Theoretical and experimental study of galvanic coupling effects between carbon steel and stainless steels

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Abstract

The use of stainless steel in high corrosion risk areas represents a viable option for reducing the life-cycle cost and extending the service life of concrete structures. However, the possible galvanic corrosion between it and carbon steel continues to be a concern. In this article, the galvanic coupling behaviours of carbon steel and three different stainless steels were investigated in simulated pore solutions and concrete specimens. The results showed that the oxygen reduction reaction was much lower on stainless steel than on passive carbon steel, leading to a lower galvanic coupling current between stainless steel and corroding carbon steel than that between passive and corroding carbon steels. However, rust contamination of stainless steel was found to increase galvanic coupling corrosion on carbon steel.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions and support of The Nickel Institute (previously the Nickel Development Institute), Alberta Transportation, The City of Ottawa, The Ministry of Transportation of Quebec and Valbruna Canada Ltd. Thanks are also due to Bruce Baldock, Glendon Pye, Gordon Chan and Bob Myers of NRC-IRC for their help with the experimental work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Urban Infrastructure, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada

    S. Qian

  2. Department of Advanced Material Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Korea University Sejong Campus Jochiwon, Chungnam, 339-700, Korea

    D. Qu

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  1. S. Qian
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  2. D. Qu
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Correspondence to S. Qian.

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Qian, S., Qu, D. Theoretical and experimental study of galvanic coupling effects between carbon steel and stainless steels. J Appl Electrochem 40, 247–256 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-009-9998-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-009-9998-8

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