Volume 60 (2016): Edizione 2 (June 2016)

The paper presents results of research aimed at determining the corrosive properties of steel with cathode metal coating in selected corrosive environments. The corrosion properties of the tin coated steel were evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic tests. For realised measurements, distilled water, 0.5 mol dm⁻³ NaCl solution, 0.1 mol dm⁻³ NaCl solution and SARS, which simulates acid rain were used as corrosive solutions. Both corrosion methods are suitable for diagnosing corrosion properties of steel with metal coatings.

Polarization curves measured in a sufficiently aggressive environment (e.g. 0.5 mol dm⁻³ of H₂SO₄) may help to assess corrosion resistance of stainless steels. New phases precipitate in steel exposed long-term to high temperatures, which may affect the corrosion resistance. Potentiostatic polarization curves were measured on austenitic steel Super304H in a solution annealed state (from the producer) and in a state aged for 15 000 hours at temperatures of 650, 675 and 700 °C. The higher level of current density in passivity (worse corrosion resistance) was reported after aging at 650 °C.

Accelerated corrosion testing is indispensable for material selection, quality control and both initial and residual life time prediction for bare and painted metallic, polymeric, adhesive and other materials in atmospheric exposure conditions. The best known Neutral Salt Spray (NSS) test provides unrealistic conditions and poor correlation to exposures in atmosphere. Modern cyclic accelerated corrosion tests include intermittent salt spray, wet and dry phases and eventually other technical phases. They are able to predict the material performance in service more correctly as documented on several examples. The use of NSS should thus be restricted for quality control.

The case study of chimney liner corrosion addresses three specific cases of damage of chimney systems from of stainless steels. These systems were used for flue of gas arising from the combustion of brown coal in small automatic boilers, which are used for heating. Detailed analyzes implied that the cause of devastating corrosion of the steel AISI 316 and 304 steel (CSN 17349, 17241) was particularly high content of halides (chlorides and fluorides), which caused a severe pitting corrosion, which led up to the perforation of the liner material. Simultaneous reduction of the thickness of the used sheets was due to by the general corrosion, which was caused by the sulfur in the solid fuel. The condensation then led to acid environment and therefore the corrosion below the dew point of the sulfuric acid has occurred. All is documented by metallographic analysis and microanalysis of the corrosion products.

The study summarises current knowledge on microbial corrosion in a deep nuclear-waste repository. The first part evaluates the general impact of microbial activity on corrosion mechanisms. Especially, the impact of microbial metabolism on the environment and the impact of biofilms on the surface of structure materials were evaluated. The next part focuses on microbial corrosion in a deep nuclear-waste repository. The study aims to suggest the development of the repository environment and in that respect the viability of bacteria, depending on the probable conditions of the environment, such as humidity of bentonite, pressure in compact bentonite, the impact of ionizing radiation, etc. The last part is aimed at possible techniques for microbial corrosion mechanism monitoring in the conditions of a deep repository. Namely, electrochemical and microscopic techniques were discussed.