Corrosion Behavior of S450EW Low-alloy Weathering Steel in Cyclically Alternate Corrosion Environments

Weathering steel is widely used in various fields due to its excellent mechanical properties and high corrosion resistance. The effect of chromium content on the S450EW weathering steel in cyclic immersion test was studied. The results indicated that the corrosion resistance of S450EW weathering steel is closely related to chromium content. The addition of chromium significantly inhibited the weathering steel corrosion. The corrosion rate of experimental steel after 96 h immersion was 1.101 g·m−2·h−1. The rust of S450EW weathering steel was mainly constituted of FeOOH and Fe3O4 phase, and the elevation of chromium content promoted the formation of α-FeOOH. The fine precipitates of the two phases contributed to the formation of dense dust layer of test steel. Furthermore, the increase of chromium is beneficial for the cure of original defects and cracks of the rust layer via the enrichment of chromium. The corrosion potential and the resistance of corrosion process were thus increased, protecting the experimental steel from further corrosion. A S450EW steel with corrosion resistance more than 1.5 times of Q450NQR1 steel was prepared.