Effect of Cr on Characteristic of Rust Layer Formed on Low Alloy Steel in Flow-accelerated Corrosion Environment

The flow-accelerated corrosion experiments were carried out to research the effect of Cr on the rust layers formed on the carbon steel and Cr-containing steel, as well as the structure of rust layer of the two experimental steels. The influence of Cr on the flow-accelerated corrosion resistance and the corrosion morphology of inner rust layer formed on the Cr-containing steel were studied by the methods of polarization curves, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope. The distribution of Cr and its form of existence in the inner rust layer were analyzed. The results show that corroded mass loss of Cr-containing steel is lower than that of carbon steel and its inner rust layer is compact. Cr exists in the form of Fe2CrO4 and is enriched in the inner rust layer. This concentration could make the inner rust layer exhibit the tendency of amorphous. This phenomenon is related to fine Fe2CrO4. The inner rust layer becomes more compact because of the formation of fine Fe2CrO4, and the protectiveness of inner rust layer could be improved remarkably.