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Industries transporting CO2 gas-saturated fluids have infrastructures made of carbon steel. This is a good material with great mechanical properties but prone to corrosion and potential failure. Corrosion in sweet environments involves the formation of FeCO3 as a corrosion film, which is recognized to play a protective role under certain conditions. This work on the dissolution of corrosion films in sweet environments, under acidic and undersaturated conditions, demonstrates that the effects on the integrity of steel are far more significant than the damage observed on the surface of the corrosion film. Our results prove that dissolution of FeCO3 involved the presence of an amorphous phase, the intermediate formation of FeCl2 or FeCl+, and the presence of a phase with short distance atom–atom correlations. The amorphous phase was identified as a mixture of retained γ-Fe and Fe3C. Partially broken α-Fe and Fe3C structures were identified to prove the damage on the material, confirming the interface zone without evident damage on the corrosion film. Dissolution affected both the α-Fe and FeCO3, with the lattice [102̅] from the FeCO3 crystalline structure being the fastest to dissolve. The damage of steel at the molecular scale was evident at the macroscale with pit depths of up to 250 μm. The impact on the integrity of steel can be, therefore, more drastic than frequently reported in industrial operations of CO2 transport industries that use cleaning procedures (e.g., acid treatment, pigging) as part of their operational activities.
Civilization and modern societies would not be possible without manmade materials. Considering their production volumes, their supporting role in nearly all industrial processes, and the impact of their sourcing and production on the environment, metals and alloys are and will be of prominent importance for the clean energy transition. The focus of materials discovery must move to more specialized, application-tailored green alloys that outperform the legacy materials not only in performance but also in sustainability and resource efficiency. This white paper summarizes a joint Canadian-German initiative aimed at developing a materials acceleration platform (MAP) focusing on the discovery of new alloy families that will address this challenge. We call our initiative the “Build to Last Materials Acceleration Platform” (B2L-MAP) and present in this perspective our concept of a three-tiered self-driving laboratory that is composed of a simulation-aided pre-selection module (B2L-select), an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven experimental lead generator (B2L-explore), and an upscaling module for durability assessment (B2L-assess). The resulting tool will be used to identify and subsequently demonstrate novel corrosion-resistant alloys at scale for three key applications of critical importance to an offshore, wind-driven hydrogen plant (reusable electrical contacts, offshore infrastructure, and oxygen evolution reaction catalysts).
This paper considers an indirect measurement approach to reconstruct a defect in a two-dimensional waveguide model for a non-destructive ultrasonic inspection via derivative-based optimization. The propagation of the mechanical waves is simulated by the scaled boundary finite element method that builds on a semi-analytical approach. The simulated data are then fitted to given data associated with the reflected waves from a defect which is to be reconstructed. For this purpose, we apply an iteratively regularized Gauss-Newton method in combination with algorithmic differentiation to provide the required derivative information accurately and efficiently. We present numerical results for three kinds of defects, namely, a crack, delamination, and corrosion. The objective function and the properties of the reconstruction method are investigated. The examples show that the parameterization of the defect can be reconstructed efficiently as well as robustly in the presence of noise.
Galvanic corrosion protection by embedded zinc anodes is an accepted technique for the corrosion protection of reinforcing steel in concrete. Galvanic currents flow between the zinc anode and the steel reinforcement due to the potential difference that is in the range of a few hundred mV.
The ion distribution was studied on two steel reinforced concrete specimens admixed with 3 wt.% chloride/wt. cement and galvanically protected by a surface applied EZ-anode. On both specimens, a zinc anode was embedded and glued to the concrete surface by a geo-polymer-based chloride-free binder. At one specimen, the EZ-anode was operated for 2,5 years, the EZ-anode at the other specimen was not electrically connected to the reinforcement, this specimen serves as a reference. Both specimens have been stored under identical conditions. The ion distribution between the anode (EZ-ANODE) and cathode (steel reinforcement) was studied by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) after 7 months, 12 months, and 2,5 years. Results of the LIBS studies on the specimen with activated EZ-anode after 7 months, 12 months, and 2,5 years and of the reference specimen after 2,5 years are reported. Results show that diffusion of ions contributes to the changes in the ion distribution but migration, especially of chlorides towards the EZ-anode is significant despite the weak electric field – several hundred millivolts - generated by the galvanic current. Results show that chloride ions accumulate near the zinc-anode as in water-insoluble zinc-hydroxy chlorides - Simonkollite.
Molten salt containing systems gain in importance for sustainable energy use and production. For research and development, interactions of molten salts with potential container materials are of major interest. This article introduces preparation procedures to display an intact metal and salt microstructure and their interface using light optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The exemplary material combination is the ternary salt mixture NaCl-KCl-MgCl2 and the low alloyed steel 1.4901 (T92) with a maximum service temperature of 550 °C. These are potential elements/materials for use in latent heat thermal energy storages.
This work presents the determination of the corrosion characteristics of CrCoNi (medium entropy alloy) and CrMnFeCoNi (high entropy alloy) in 0.1 M NaCl and 0.1 M H2SO4. The morphology and chemical composition of the oxide layers formed on CrCoNi and CrMnFeCoNi were comparatively analyzed by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and supported with chemical analysis by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The analysis of the 3p core level peaks showed that the oxide layer (native and after anodic passivation) on CrCoNi consisted mainly of Cr oxides, while the oxide layer on CrMnFeCoNi was primarily composed of a mixture of Cr and Fe oxides. In addition, XPS was utilized to assess the oxide layer thicknesses. These results were compared to the thicknesses obtained by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), with both approaches yielding values up to about 4 nm depending on the electrolyte and the alloy. Cyclic polarization measurements indicated superior corrosion resistance of CrCoNi in both aqueous environments compared to CrMnFeCoNi, as well as to AISI 304 stainless steel.
A global transition towards more sustainable, affordable and reliable energy systems is being stimulated by the Paris Agreement and the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This poses a challenge for the corrosion industry, as building climate‐resilient energy systems and infrastructures brings with it a long‐term direction, so as a result the long‐term behaviour of structural materials (mainly metals and alloys) becomes a major prospect. With this in mind “Corrosion Challenges Towards a Sustainable Society” presents a series of cases showing the importance of corrosion protection of metals and alloys in the development of energy production to further understand the science of corrosion, and bring the need for research and the consequences of corrosion into public and political focus. This includes emphasis on the limitation of greenhouse gas emissions, on the lifetime of infrastructures, implants, cultural heritage artefacts, and a variety of other topics.
Biofilms are ubiquitous in nature and in the man-made environment. Given their harmful effects on human health, an in-depth understanding of biofilms and the monitoring of their formation and growth are important. Particularly relevant for many metabolic processes and survival strategies of biofilms is their extracellular pH. However, most conventional techniques are not suited for minimally invasive pH measurements of living biofilms. Here, a fluorescent nanosensor is presented for ratiometric measurements of pH in biofilms in the range of pH 4.5–9.5 using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The nanosensor consists of biocompatible polystyrene nanoparticles loaded with pH-inert dye Nile Red and is surface functionalized with a pH-responsive fluorescein dye. Its performance was validated by fluorometrically monitoring the time-dependent changes in pH in E. coli biofilms after glucose inoculation at 37 °C and 4 °C. This revealed a temperature-dependent decrease in pH over a 4-h period caused by the acidifying glucose metabolism of E. coli. These studies demonstrate the applicability of this nanosensor to characterize the chemical microenvironment in biofilms with fluorescence methods.
Cellulose ethers, like methyl cellulose (MC) or hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), are widely used in conservation. They also occur as additives and rheology modifiers in various products like dispersions or gels. Do such products release harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC) during their accelerated aging? A mass testing series utilizing the Oddy test of 60 commercial cellulose ethers ranks the products in safe for permanent use (P, no corrosion), only for temporary use (T, slight corrosion), and unsuitable at all (F, heavy corrosion). Results show that 55% of the products passed the test whereas 33% are for temporary use as slight corrosion occurred on at least one metal coupon and only 11% failed the Oddy test. Raman measurements of the corrosion products identified oxides like massicot, litharge, cuprite, and tenorite among carbonates (hydrocerussite, plumbonacrite), and acetates like basic lead acetate, lead acetate trihydrate as well as lead formate as main phases. For example, commercial, industrial Klucel® G (HPC) scored a T rating through slight corrosion on the lead coupon. Basic lead acetate among other phases indicates the presence of acetic acid. Additional measurements of the sample with thermal desorption GC–MS utilizing the BEMMA scheme confirm the high acetic acid outgassing and reveal the presence of a small amount of formaldehyde.
To mitigate carbon dioxide emissions CO2 is compressed and sequestrated into deep geological layers (Carbon Capture and Storage CCS). The corrosion of injection pipe steels is induced when the metal is in contact with CO2 and at the same time the geological saline formation water. Stainless steels X35CrMo17 and X5CrNiCuNb16-4 with approximately 17% Cr show potential as injection pipes to engineer the Northern German Basin geological onshore CCS-site. Static laboratory experiments (T = 60 ◦C, p = 100 bar, 700–8000 h exposure time, aquifer water, CO2-flow rate of 9 L/h) were conducted to evaluate corrosion kinetics. The anomalous surface corrosion phenomena were found to be independent of heat treatment prior to exposure. The corrosion process is described as a function of the atmosphere and diffusion process of ionic species to explain the precipitation mechanism and better estimate the reliability of these particular steels in a downhole CCS environment.
Early material damage in equimolar CrMnFeCoNi in mixed oxidizing/sulfiding hot gas atmosphere
(2022)
The challenges to use more varied fuels at medium and high temperatures above 500 °C need to be addressed by tuning the materials toward a better resistance against increased corrosion. As a first step the corrosion processes need to be better understood, especially in the case of the unavoidable and highly corrosive sulfur-based gases. Herein, oxidation/sulfidation of an equimolar CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy is studied at an early stage after hot gas exposure at 600 °C for 6 h in 0.5% SO2 and 99.5% Ar. The oxidation process is studied by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and supported by thermodynamic calculations. It is found that the sulfur does not enter the bulk material but interacts mainly with the fast-diffusing manganese at grain boundary triple junctions at the alloy surface. Submicrometer scaled Cr–S–O-rich phases close to the grain boundaries complete the sulfur-based phase formation. The grains are covered in different Fe-, Mn-, and Cr-based spinels and other oxides.
Novel agar-based test electrolytes are used to perform electrochemical corrosion investigations on ZnFe and ZnNi binary as well as ZnFeMo ternary zinc coatings. The objectives of the electrochemical investigations include the characterization of the corrosion behavior, the description of the protective effect of the coatings as well as the investigation of the layer formation and degradation under artificial aging. ZnFe and ZnFeMo coatings are applied with varying iron content as well as an additional passivation layer, respectively, to study the effect on corrosion resistance. The results show that the protective effect of the coatings is not negatively influenced by different iron contents or the addition of molybdenum. Additional passivation of the ZnFe-containing coatings by means of a passivating agent leads to a significant improvement in the protective effect. Artificial aging leads to slight degradation of the additional passivation layer whereas coatings without post-treatment enhance their protective effect by the formation of corrosion product layers.
Static immersion tests of potential injection pipe steels 42CrMo4, X20Cr13, X46Cr13, X35CrMo4, and X5CrNiCuNb16-4 at T = 60 °C and ambient pressure, as well as p = 100 bar were performed for 700–8000 h in a CO₂-saturated synthetic aquifer environment similar to CCS sites in the Northern German Basin (NGB). Corrosion rates at 100 bar are generally lower than at ambient pressure. The main corrosion products are FeCO₃ and FeOOH with surface and local corrosion phenomena directly related to the alloy composition and microstructure. The appropriate heat treatment enhances corrosion resistance. The lifetime reduction of X46Cr13, X5CrNiCuNb16-4, and duplex stainless steel X2CrNiMoN22-5-3 in a CCS environment is demonstrated in the in situ corrosion fatigue CF experiments (axial push-pull and rotation bending load, 60 °C, brine: Stuttgart Aquifer and NGB, flowing CO₂: 30 L/h, +/- applied potential). Insulating the test setup is necessary to gain reliable data. S-N plots, micrographic-, phase-, fractographic-, and surface analysis prove that the life expectancy of X2CrNiMoN22-5-3 in the axial cyclic load to failure is clearly related to the surface finish, applied stress amplitude, and stress mode. The horizontal grain attack within corrosion pit cavities, multiple fatigue cracks, and preferable deterioration of austenitic phase mainly cause fatigue failure. The CF life range increases significantly when a protective potential is applied.
The suitability of an Al2O3 coating for corrosion protection on X20Cr13 was evaluated in various artificial geothermal brines, focusing on the influence of different pH (4, 6 and 8) and their chemical compositions on the coating properties. All experiments were performed in the laboratory using autoclaves at 150 ◦C and 1 MPa in deaerated condition for 1 and 7 days. Results showed that the pH of geothermal waters is the most detrimental factor in the transformation of ɣ-Al2O3 and its protective abilities. Delaminations were found in the Coating exposed to geothermal brines with pH 4. FTIR spectra indicated a transformation of ɣ-Al2O3 to boehmite AlOOH after exposure to pH 4 and 6, and bayerite Al(OH)3 was formed after exposure to pH 8. Different Crystal structures of the hydrated Al2O3 also contribute to the stability of the coatings, observed by the SEM- EDX of the surface and cross-section of coatings. This study indicated that ɣ-Al2O3 sol-gel coating presents a promising aspect of corrosion protection in geothermal environment with a neutral pH.
Stainless steel AISI 304 surfaces were studied after a mild anodic polarization for oxide growth in the presence and absence of two derivatives of vitamin B2 (riboflavin and flavin mononucleotide) that can be secreted by metal‐reducing bacteria and act as a chelating agent for iron species. The alterations in oxide chemistry were studied by means of surface‐sensitive techniques such as X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis. The complementary electrochemical characterization revealed a preferential growth of an oxide/hydroxide iron‐rich film that is responsible for an altered pit initiation and nucleation behavior. These findings suggest that as the corrosion behavior is determined by the interplay of the chemical and electronic properties, only a mild anodic polarization in the presence of redox‐active molecules is able to alter the chemical and electronic structure of the passive film formed on stainless steel AISI 304. This helps to achieve a profound understanding of the mechanisms of microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) and especially the possible effects of the redox‐active biomolecules, as they may play an important role in the corrosion susceptibility of stainless steel surfaces.
Although zinc and zinc coatings have been widely used for corrosion protection for decades new zinc coatings are constantly being developed. Characterizing the corrosion protectiveness of these new coatings, however, should not be underestimated. While exposure tests are time intensive, cyclic tests can only be used for a very limited field of application. Thus, electrochemical measurements provide both an efficient and an effective alternative. Conventional aqueous bulk electrolytes influence the surface layers of a tested zinc coating and are therefore not reliable. Gel electrolytes, however, have evolved over the last few years, are minimally invasive and provide reliable results.
This work describes experiments with gel electrolytes made of agar. Unlike previous work, it proposes a composition of gel electrolyte for minimally invasive description of the protective power of naturally formed oxide layers on zinc and zinc coatings. Therefore, as a first part, the gel electrolyte made of agar is verified as a method for zinc and zinc-coated samples. Afterwards, this paper introduces the corrosion product layer resistance RL as a promising parameter to evaluate the protective power of zinc coatings. Results are verified with EIS and FTIR measurements. An example on a representative zinc coating demonstrates the practical application.
Al2O3 has been widely used as a coating in industrial applications due to its excellent chemical and thermal resistance. Considering high temperatures and aggressive mediums exist in geothermal systems, Al2O3 can be a potential coating candidate to protect steels in geothermal applications. In this study, γ-Al2O3 was used as a coating on martensitic steels by applying AlOOH sol followed by a heat treatment at 600 °C. To evaluate the coating application process, one-, two-, and three-layer coatings were tested in the artificial North German Basin (NGB), containing 166 g/L Cl−, at 150 °C and 1 MPa for 168 h. To reveal the stability of the Al2O3 coating in NGB solution, three-layer coatings were used in exposure tests for 24, 168, 672, and 1296 h, followed by surface and cross-section characterization. SEM images show that the Al2O3 coating was stable up to 1296 h of exposure, where the outer layer mostly transformed into boehmite AlOOH with needle-like crystals dominating the surface. Closer analysis of cross-sections showed that the interface between each layer was affected in long-term exposure tests, which caused local delamination after 168 h of exposure. In separate experiments, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was performed at 150 °C to evaluate the changes of coatings within the first 24 h. Results showed that the most significant decrease in the impedance is within 6 h, which can be associated with the electrolyte penetration through the coating, followed by the formation of AlOOH. Here, results of both short-term EIS measurements (up to 24 h) and long-term exposure tests (up to 1296 h) are discussed.
Static immersion tests of potential injection pipe steels 42CrMo4, X20Cr13, X46Cr13, X35CrMo4, and X5CrNiCuNb16-4 at T = 60°C and ambient pressure, as well as p = 100 bar were performed for 700–8000 h in a CO2-saturated synthetic aquifer environment similar to CCS sites in the Northern German Basin (NGB). Corrosion rates at 100 bar are generally lower than at ambient pressure. The main corrosion products are FeCO3 and FeOOH with surface and local corrosion phenomena directly related to the alloy composition and microstructure. The appropriate heat treatment enhances corrosion resistance. The lifetime reduction of X46Cr13, X5CrNiCuNb16-4, and duplex stainless steel X2CrNiMoN22-5-3 in a CCS environment is demonstrated in the in situ corrosion fatigue CF experiments (axial push-pull and rotation bending load, 60°C , brine: Stuttgart Aquifer and NGB, flowing CO2: 30 L/h, +/- applied potential). Insulating the test setup is necessary to gain reliable data. S-N plots, micrographic-, phase-, fractographic-, and surface analysis prove that the life expectancy of X2CrNiMoN22-5-3 in the axial cyclic load to failure is clearly related to the surface finish, applied stress amplitude, and stress mode. The horizontal grain attack within corrosion pit cavities, multiple fatigue cracks, and preferable deterioration of austenitic phase mainly cause fatigue failure. The CF life range increases significantly when a protective potential is applied.
For reliability and safety issues of injection wells, corrosion resistance of materials used needs to be determined. Herein, representative low-cost materials, including carbon steel X70/1.8977 and low alloyed steel 1.7225, were embedded in mortar to mimic the realistic casing-mortar interface. Two types of cement were investigated: (1) Dyckerhoff Variodur commercial Portland cement, representing a highly acidic resistant cement and (2) Wollastonite, which can react with CO2 and become stable under a CO2 stream due to the carbonation process. Exposure tests were performed under 10 MPa and at 333 K in artificial aquifer fluid for up to 20 weeks, revealing crevice corrosion and uniform corrosion instead of expected pitting corrosion. To clarify the role of cement, simulated pore water was made by dispersing cement powder in aquifer fluid and used as a solution to expose steels. Surface analysis, accompanied by element mapping on exposed specimens and their crosssections, was carried out to trace the chloride intrusion and corrosion process that followed.
Geothermal brines often contain high amounts of lead and copper ions that can precipitate as native Cu and Pb as consequence of galvanic corrosion when brines react with carbon steel materials. This contribution evaluates which materials could overcome the problem of galvanic corrosion at geothermal environment.
The behavior of these materials in water containing high chloride concentration (> 100 g/L NaCl) as well as various amounts of dissolved bCl2 and/or CuCl2 was characterized by electrochemical and exposure measurements.
Both methods reveal carbon steel suffers corrosion susceptibility, accompanied by Cu◦ and/or Pb◦ precipitation on the surface. Electrochemical measurements on stainless steels result in significant difference in corrosion and repassivation potentials (Ecorr = -189 mV, Erep = 70 mV), indicating a good corrosion resistance.
Often 3D‐printing and additive manufacturing are mentioned as the 3rd industrial revolution. In this conjunction this book provides a brief overview on additively manufactured metal pieces.
This book fulfills its intension to serve as an educational guide, providing a holistic picture encompassing science, technology and applications for the real‐life use of Metal Additive Manufacturing.
In 2019 CRC Press published the "Steel‐Reinforced Concrete Structures" as a paperback. This book does not vary in terms of content from the hardback publication of 2008. But it is first reviewed here in corrosion news. The book provides eight of nine chapters in which the author discusses technical aspects of assessment and repair of steel‐reinforced concrete structures.
To sum up, this book is recommended for students and people involved with the assessment and repair of reinforced‐concrete structures, who want to get a quick introduction into the different aspects of the field. Readers also learn much about the economic interactions besides the topic. However, for experienced technicians and corrosion experts, this book may not be exact enough in both the electrochemical description of deterioration processes and the practical aspects of repair and control methods. Despite that, the discussions of the author are scientifically correct.
Literature data on the influence of concrete cracks on corrosion propagation of reinforcing steel are contradictory. This might be due to very different exposure and test conditions but also to a lack of time-resolved data in cyclic wetting–drying exposure. Here, the influence of the environmental conditions on the corrosion rates in cracked concrete is studied experimentally. The results show that the corrosion rate in cracked concrete depends on the duration of wetting and drying phases and the relative humidity (RH) during the drying phase. The lower the ambient RH in the drying phase, the faster the cracks dry, which depresses the corrosion rate in the periods between the wetting events. A model is proposed to estimate corrosion rates in cracked concrete cyclic wetting/drying exposure.
The corrosion resistance of aluminium surfaces is closely linked to the surfacecstate after a grinding process. For years, iron‐containing abrasive materials were suspected to lead to increased corrosion susceptibility after processing of aluminium surfaces. To prove a possible correlation between the iron content of an abrasive and the corrosion behaviour of aluminium components, scientific investigations and experimentally practical corrosion tests are necessary.
For the current investigation, specimens of a technical Al‐Si alloy from the same batch were used. The test specimens were mechanically ground with various resin‐bonded model abrasives containing different iron contents. The performed corrosion tests did not reveal a negative influence of the different iron‐containing abrasives on the corrosion behaviour of the Al–Si alloy.
However, the most sensitive measuring method (electrochemical noise)
showed differences in the surface activity depending on the type of abrasive.
Early Stage of Corrosion Formation on Pipeline Steel X70 Under Oxyfuel Atmosphere at Low Temperature
(2020)
The early stage of corrosion formation on X70 pipeline steel under oxyfuel atmosphere was investigated by applying a simulated gas mixture (CO2 containing 6700 ppmv O2, 100 ppmv NO2, 70 ppmv SO2 and 50 ppmv H2O) for 15 h at 278 K and ambient pressure. Short-term tests (6 h) revealed that the corrosion starts as local spots related to grinding marks progressing by time and moisture until a closed layer was formed. Acid droplets (pH 1.5), generated in the gas atmosphere, containing a mixture of H2SO4 and HNO3, were identified as corrosion starters. After 15 h of exposure, corrosion products were mainly X-ray amorphous and only partially crystalline. In-situ energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD) results showed that the crystalline fractions consist primarily of water-bearing iron sulfates. Applying Raman spectroscopy, water-bearing iron nitrates were detected as subordinated phases. Supplementary long-term tests exhibited a significant increase in the crystalline fraction and formation of additional water-bearing iron sulfates. All phases of the corrosion layer were intergrown in a nanocrystalline network. In addition, numerous globular structures have been detected above the corrosion layer, which were identified as hydrated iron sulphate and hematite. As a type of corrosion, shallow pit formation was identified, and the corrosion rate was about 0.1 mma−1. In addition to in-situ EDXRD, SEM/EDS, TEM, Raman spectroscopy and interferometry were used to chemically and microstructurally analyze the corrosion products.
In coal-fired power plants using oxyfuel combustion process with carbon capture and sequestration, instead of air, a mixture of oxygen and recirculated flue gas is injected in the boiler. A series of steels were exposed to CO2-SO2-Ar-H2O gas mixtures at 600 °C for 1000 h to compare their high temperature corrosion behavior. During the corrosion process, carburization, decarburization and recrystallization were observed underneath the oxide scale depending on the gas mixture and alloy composition. The conditions that lead to carburization are not yet completely understood, but decarburization can be simulated using thermodynamic and kinetic models. In this work, the results of these simulations are compared with measured values for one of the alloys that displayed a decarburized region. Since the mobility of carbon in the scale is not known, two strategies were adopted: simulation of alloy-atmosphere contact; and estimation of the carbon flux to produce the observed decarburization. The second approach might give an insight on how permeable to carbon the scale is.
During capture and storage technology (CCS) as well as in geothermal energy production Steels need to withstand the corrosive environment such as: heat, pressure, salinity of the aquifer and CO2-partial pressure. 1.4542 shows unusual corrosion phenomena, but is still sufficiently resistant in corrosive environments. To better understand its behaviour differently heat treated coupons of 1.4542 and for comparison X20Cr13 and X46Cr13 were kept in the artificial brine of the Northern German Basin at T=60 °C. Ambient pressure as well as p=100 bar for 700 h - 8000 h in water saturated supercritical CO2 and CO2-saturated synthetic aquifer Environment was applied. Fatigue tests were performed via push-pull tests with a series of 30 specimens from 150 MPa to 500 MPa (sinusoidal dynamic test loads, R=-1; resonant frequency ~ 30 Hz). FeCO3 and FeOOH are corrosion products also after dynamic corrosion tests. Martensitic microstructure offers good corrosion resistance in geothermal environment. The S-N-curve showing no typical fatigue strength and very steep slopes of possible fatigue strength for finite life. Possible influencing artefacts, such as Al-inclusions could not be correlated to early rupture despite specimens containing inclusions at the fracture surface and cross section reached lower number of cycles. Applied potential proofed to enhance fatigue life tremendously.
Corrosion fatigue specimen with different surfaces (technical surfaces after machining and polished surfaces) of high alloyed martensitic stainless steel X46Cr13 (1.4043) and duplex stai nless steel X2CrNiMoN22 3 2 (1.4462) were compared at load amplitudes from 175 MPa to 325 MPa in the geothermal brine of the N orthern German Basin at 98 °C. Surface corrosion layers and pits reveal carbonate corrosion products on the surface such as FeCO 3 and FeOOH as the main precipitation phases with no dependence on the original surface roughness . At high stress amplitudes above 275 MPa technical surfaces (P50% at σa 300 MPa=5 × 10 5 ) resulted in more cycles to failure than polished (P50% at σa 300 MPa=1.5 × 10 5 ). The greater slope coefficient for technical surfaces k = 19.006 compared to polished surfaces k =8.78 demonstrate s earlier failure at given stress amplitude σa .
Roaldite – Fe4N – has been identified in the São Julião de Moreira iron meteorite using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and simultaneously acquired energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Mean-periodic-number images derived from raw EBSD patterns confirm this phase by an even higher spatial resolution compared to EDS.
Roaldite appears in the form of systematically and repetitively aligned plates. Despite the locally heavy plastic deformation, it is shown that the origin of the oriented precipitation of roaldite is linked to the orientation of the kamacite matrix. Roaldite can be considered to be precipitated from kamacite using an inverse Kurdjumov-Sachs (K-S) or Nishiyama-Wassermann (N-W) orientation relationship. A more accurate discrimination is impossible due to the accumulated shock deformation, which blurs the local reference orientation of kamacite. The habit plane of roaldite is found to be {112}R, which is most likely parallel to {120}K of kamacite. Some of the roaldite plates contain two orientation variants which repeatedly alternate. Their misorientation angle is about 12°.
In civil engineering, many structures are made of reinforced concrete. Most Degradation processes relevant to this material, e.g., corrosion, are related to an increased level of material moisture.
Therefore, moisture monitoring in reinforced concrete is regarded as a crucial method for structural health monitoring. In this study, passive radio frequency identification (RFID)-based sensors are embedded into the concrete. They are well suited for long-term operation over decades and are well protected against harsh environmental conditions. The energy supply and the data transfer of the humidity sensors are provided by RFID. The sensor casing materials are optimised to withstand the high alkaline environment in concrete, having pH values of more than 12. Membrane materials are also investigated to identify materials capable of enabling water vapour transport from the porous cement matrix to the embedded humidity sensor. By measuring the corresponding relative humidity with embedded passive RFID-based sensors, the cement hydration is monitored for 170 days.
Moreover, long-term moisture monitoring is performed for more than 1000 days. The Experiments show that embedded passive RFID-based sensors are highly suitable for long-term structural health monitoring in civil engineering.
Machine learning based multi-sensor fusion for the nondestructive testing of corrosion in concrete
(2020)
Half-cell potential mapping (HP) is the most popular non-destructive testing method (NDT) for locating corrosion damage in concrete. It is generally accepted that HP is susceptible to environmental factors caused by salt-related deterioration, such as different moisture and chloride gradients. Additional NDT methods are able to identify distinctive areas but are not yet used to estimate more accurate test results. We present a Supervised Machine Learning (SML) based approach to data fusion of seven different signal features to obtain higher quality information. SMLs are methods that explore (or learn) relationships between different (sensor) data from predefined data labels. To obtain a representative, labelled data set we conducted a comprehensive experiment simulating the deterioration cycle of a chloride exposed device in the laboratory. Our data set consists of 18 measurement campaigns, each containing HP, Ground Penetrating- Radar, Microwave Moisture and Wenner resistivity data. We compare the performance of different ML approaches. Many outperform the best single method, HP. We describe the intrinsic challenges posed by a data-driven approach in NDT and show how future work can help overcome them.
This study focuses on the corrosion mechanism of carbon steel exposed to an artificial geothermal brine influenced by carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. The tested brine simulates a geothermal source in Sibayak, Indonesia, containing 1500 mg/L of Cl-, 20 mg/L of SO4 2-, and 15 mg/L of HCO3-with pH 4. To reveal the temperature effect on the corrosion behavior of carbon steel, exposure and electrochemical tests were carried out at 70 °C and 150 °C. Surface analysis of corroded specimens showed localized corrosion at both temperatures, despite the formation of corrosion products on the surface. After 7 days at 150 °C, SEM images showed the formation of an adherent, dense, and crystalline FeCO3 layer. Whereas at 70 °C, the corrosion products consisted of chukanovite (Fe2(OH)2CO3) and siderite (FeCO3), which are less dense and less protective than that at 150 °C.
Control experiments under Ar-environment were used to investigate the corrosive effect of CO2. Free corrosion potential (Ecorr) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirm that at both temperatures, the corrosive effect of CO2 was more significant compared to that measured in the Ar-containing solution. In terms of temperature effect, carbon steel remained active at 70 °C, while at 150 °C, it became passive due to the FeCO3 formation. These results suggest that carbon steel is more susceptible to corrosion at the near ground surface of a geothermal well, whereas at a deeper well with a higher temperature, there is a possible risk of scaling (FeCO3 layer). A longer exposure test at 150 °C with a stagnant solution for 28 days, however, showed the unstable FeCO3 layer and therefore a deeper localized corrosion compared to that of seven-day exposed specimens.
Today glass is broadly used in modern architecture. For indoor applications it is possible to produce decorated glass by using enamel colours and glass painting techniques without any problems. However, this is more limited for applications out of doors. Humidity and environmental pollution attack the surface of the coating and can damage it. There are only a few colours on the market which are resistant towards acids and bases until now. Additionally, most of those colours are opaque. To extend the colour palette, chemically resistant low melting coloured glasses are being developed which are transparent and intensively toned even in thin coating thicknesses. To achieve such an ambitious aim, many parameters have to combine and act in a complex manner. New compositions of lead borosilicate, zinc borosilicate and lead-zinc borosilicate glasses were produced and milled as powder. The thermal properties as well as the environmental stability were analysed. The influence of PbO and ZnO on the thermal properties and the environmental stability were investigated. Evaluation of the fusing results shows that the production and mixture of transparent vitreous enamels for the exterior side of glasses is possible. The tests made it clear that the original materials for making the vitreous enamels must be excellently ground and prepared to achieve a satisfactory result. The method to produce durable vitreous enamels for exterior application also seems to allow the production of glass colours.
This work presents machine learning-inspired data fusion approaches to improve the non-destructive testing of reinforced concrete. The principal effects that are used for data fusion are shown theoretically. Their effectiveness is tested in case studies carried out on largescale concrete specimens with built-in chloride-induced rebar corrosion. The dataset consists of half-cell potential mapping, Wenner resistivity, microwave moisture and ground penetrating radar measurements. Data fusion is based on the logistic Regression algorithm.
It learns an optimal linear decision boundary from multivariate labeled training data, to separate intact and defect areas. The training data are generated in an experiment that simulates the entire life cycle of chloride-exposed concrete building parts. The unique possibility to monitor the deterioration, and targeted corrosion initiation, allows data labeling.
The results exhibit an improved sensitivity of the data fusion with logistic regression compared to the best individual method half-cell potential.
Electrochemical deposition of polyaniline on carbon steel for corrosion study in geothermal solution
(2019)
Polyaniline has been widely developed for many applications, e.g. sensor, supercapacitor components, electrochromic devices, and anticorrosion pigments. Although the addition of polyaniline pigment in organic coatings has been an alternative for corrosion protection in industrial applications, the protection mechanism is still not fully understood. Herein in this study, as a part of the development of polyaniline/silicon dioxide coating for geothermal application, polyaniline has been deposited electrochemically on carbon steel surface in oxalic acid medium and tested in geothermal solution to understand the contribution of polyaniline to the corrosion protection of a polyaniline-based composite in the geothermal system. To observe the surface/interface reaction between the electrolyte and electrode surface during the electrochemical polymerization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was applied after each cycle. For corrosion study in the geothermal application, an artificial geothermal solution was used with the composition of 1,500 mg/l Cl⁻, 20 mg/l SO₄²⁻, 15 mg/l HCO₃⁻, 200 mg/l Ca²⁺, 250 mg/l K⁺, and 600 mg/l Na⁺, and pH 4 to simulate a geothermal brine found in Sibayak, Indonesia. An electrochemical measurement was performed by monitoring the open circuit potential over seven days, with the interruption by EIS every 22 hours. The experiments were performed at room temperature and 150 °C (1 MPa) in an oxygen-free environment. Impedance spectra showed a reduction of the total impedance value of approximately 10 times for specimens measured at 150 °C compared to the specimens measured at room temperature, suggesting a less stable layer at high temperature.
Geothermal energy is an interesting alternative to polluting fossil energy sources. Therefore, in Belgium, two wells have been drilled for a deep geothermal power plant. However, the environment to which the installations are exposed is challenging. The geothermal brine has 165 g/l total dissolved solids (of which 90% are sodium and chlorine) and the production temperature can be up to 130 °C. To assess their suitability to be used in a geothermal power plant, the corrosivity of the artificial brine to three common construction materials was investigated with exposure and electrochemical tests. The metals under consideration are a low-alloyed carbon steel (S235JR), an austenitic stainless steel (UNS S31603) and a duplex stainless steel (UNS S31803). The carbon steel, that was found to corrode uniformly, could be considered as a constructional material if a sufficient wall thickness is chosen. The austenitic stainless steel and the duplex stainless steel demonstrate very low uniform
corrosion rates. They are however susceptible to pitting and crevice corrosion. To guarantee safe operation of the geothermal power plant, the susceptibility of the alloys to stress corrosion cracking should be tested and in situ experiments should be performed.
The composites combining aluminum and silica nanoparticles with the addition of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (Al-SiO2(T)) and butanol (Al-SiO2(B)) as mixing media have been successfully fabricated. Corrosion behavior of Al-SiO2 composites before and after exposure in 1M NaCl solution was examined using potentiodynamic polarization (Tafel curve analysis). The study was also equipped with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigations. Before exposure, Al-SiO2(T) exhibited the best corrosion resistance. Performance improvement was indicated by Al-SiO2(B) up to 10 times better than Al-SiO2(T) after exposure. The increased SiO2 content did not significantly enhance the corrosion resistance of the composites. The Al-SiO2 composites with 5% SiO2 content showed very high corrosion resistance (as the optimum composition). Furthermore, pitting corrosion was observed in the Al-SiO2 composites, indicated by the formation of corrosion products at grain boundaries. The product was affected by the presence of SiO2 in the Al matrix and the NaCl environment at 90 °C (approach to synthetic geothermal media: Na+, Cl, H+, OH-). Our study revealed the presence of γ-Al2O3, γ-Al(OH)3, and Al(OH)2Cl as the dominant corrosion products.
The steel–concrete interface (SCI) is known to influence corrosion of steel in concrete. However, due to the numerous factors affecting the SCI—including steel properties, concrete properties, execution, and exposure conditions—it remains unclear which factors have the most dominant impact on the susceptibility of reinforced concrete to corrosion. In this literature review, prepared by members of RILEM technical committee 262-SCI, an attempt is made to elucidate the effect of numerous SCI characteristics on chloride-induced corrosion initiation of steel in concrete. We use a method to quantify and normalize the effect of individual SCI characteristics based on different literature results, which allows comparing them in a comprehensive context. It is found that the different SCI characteristics have received highly unbalanced research attention. Parameters such as w/b ratio and cement type have been studied most extensively. Interestingly, however, literature consistently indicates that those parameters have merely a moderate effect on the corrosion susceptibility of steel in concrete. Considerably more pronounced effects were identified for (1) steel properties, including metallurgy, presence of mill scale or rust layers, and surface roughness, and (2) the moisture state. Unfortunately, however, these aspects have received comparatively little research attention. Due to their apparently strong influence, future corrosion studies as well as developments towards predicting corrosion initiation in concrete would benefit from considering those aspects. Particularly the working mechanisms related to the moisture conditions in microscopic and macroscopic voids at the SCI is complex and presents major opportunities for further research in corrosion of steel in concrete.
Interfacial properties related to wettability and corrosion in CO2 transport pipelines are experimentally determined by the sessile and the pendant drop methods. The contact angle of a water drop in a compressed CO2 atmosphere is analyzed on an X70 pipeline carbon steel and compared to that on a martensitic steel S41500 to elucidate the effect of corrosion process on active wetting behaviour. The measurements are performed with liquid CO2 at 278 K and pressures ranging from 5 to 20 MPa. The results show that the contact angle (CA) increases with pressure from 132 ° to 143 ° for S41500 and from 117 ° to 137 ° for X70 and decreases with drop age by 20 ° to 24 ° regardless of the pressure and of the fact that corrosion only occurs on X70, which is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, element mapping and energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS) analysis. At higher pressure, the contact angles on both materials converge. Further, related properties like density and interfacial tension were determined. CO2 - saturated water has a higher density than pure water: At 5 MPa saturated water reaches a density of 1017 kg⋅m^(-3) and at 20 MPa 1026 kg⋅m^(-3) compared to pure water with a density of 1002 kg⋅m^(-3) and 1009 kg⋅m^(-3), respectively. In this pressure range the IFT drops from 33 mN⋅m^(-1)at 5 MPa to 23 mN⋅m^(-1) at 20 MPa.
Samples of the austenitic stainless steel grade X5CrNi18‐10 (1.4301, AISI 304) were ground industrially with various grinding parameters to study their influence on corrosion resistance. The ability of the mechanically ground surfaces to form a stable passive layer was evaluated by KorroPad test and a modified electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation test based on a single loop (EPR‐SL). Furthermore, the surfaces were characterized by surface analytical methods. The main influence was determined regarding abrasive belt type. Surfaces mechanically ground with granulate abrasive belts constantly had a lower corrosion resistance than surfaces ground with single‐coated grain. The granulate abrasive belts generated more sensitized surface areas and left formations of welded sample material on the mechanically ground surfaces. A post‐treatment with a nonwoven abrasive proved to be an effective finishing process by which the surface defects and sensitized material got removed and the surfaces regained the expected corrosion resistance.
To study the effects of condensed acid liquid, hereafter referred to as condensate, on the CO2 transport pipeline steels, gas mixtures containing a varying concentration of H2O, O2, NO2, and SO2, were proposed and resulted in the condensate containing H2SO4 and HNO3 with the pH ranging from 0.5 to 2.5. By exposing the pipeline steel to the synthetic condensate with different concentration of acidic components, the corrosion kinetic is significantly changed. Reaction kinetic was studied using electrochemical methods coupled with water analysis and compared with surface analysis (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD)) of corroded coupons. The results showed that, although the condensation of NO2 in the form of HNO3 causes faster general corrosion rate, it is the condensation of SO2 in the form of H2SO4 or the combination of SO2 and NO2 that may cause much more severe problems in the form of localized and pitting corrosions. The resulting corrosion forms were depended on the chemical nature of acids and their concentration at the same investigated pH. The effects of changing CO2 flow rate and renewing condensate on pitting corrosion were further studied.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is well acknowledged to mitigate climate change. Therefore, pipe Steels suitable for CCS technology require resistance against the corrosive environment of a potential CCS-site, e.g. heat, pressure, salinity of the aquifer, CO2-partial pressure. Samples of different mild and high alloyed stainless injection-pipe Steels partially heat treated: 42CrMo4, X20Cr13, X46Cr13, X35CrMo4 as well as X5CrNiCuNb16-4 were kept at T=60 °C and ambient pressure as well as p=100 bar for 700 h - 8000 h in a CO2-saturated synthetic aquifer environment similar to possible geological on-shore CCS-sites in the northern German Basin. Main corrosion products analysed on pits are FeCO3 and FeOOH. The carbon content does not show significant influence on the pitting behaviour. Generally, higher chromium Content results in better corrosion resistance. Although X35CrMo17-1 and X5CrNiCuNb16-4 show low surface corrosion rates, their resistance against local corrosion in CCS environment is not significantly better compared to the much less costly Steels X20Cr13 and X46Cr13.
Electrochemical potential mapping according to guideline B3 of DGZfP (German Society for Nondestructive Testing) is a recognized technique for the localization of corroding reinforcing steels. In reinforced concrete structures the measured potentials are not necessarily directly linked to the corrosion likelihood of the reinforcing steel. The measured values may be significantly affected, different from, e.g., stress measurement, by different influences on the potential formation at the phase boundary metal/concrete itself as well as the acquisition procedure. Due to the complexity of influencing factors there is a risk that the results are misinterpreted. Therefore, in a training concept firstly the theoretical basics of the test method should be imparted. Then, frequently occurring practical situations of various influencing factors will be made accessible to the participants by a model object specially designed for this purpose. The aim is to impart profound knowledge concerning the characteristics of potential mapping for detecting corrosion of reinforcing steel in order to apply this technique in practice as reliable and economical test method.
Hard and wear resistant coatings deposited by PVD techniques have been characterized for decades for their capabilities to protect steel substrates from corrosion. In the present work the effect of Mg incorporated into TiN coatings is described in terms of the corrosion behavior as well as the mechanical and structural properties.
TiN and TiMgN films with Mg contents between 10 and 35 at.% were deposited onto mirror polished 100Cr6 (1.3505) steel samples with 2.5 and 5 μm thickness by using DC magnetron sputtering. The corrosion protection capabilities of the coatings were characterized by neutral salt spray (NSS) test, considering the amounts and sizes of growth defects inherent in each coated sample as determined by a recently developed optical scan method (Large Area High Resolution mapping). The defect data were statistically analyzed for improved interpretation of NSS test results. Chosen growth defects were additionally analyzed by focused ion beam technique. Furthermore the coating composition and morphology, the hardness and the tribological behavior were characterized.
Polished steel samples coated with 2.5 μm TiMgN containing about 35 at.% Mg were in the plane free of corrosion after 24 h in a NSS test. TiMgN with 10 or 20 at.% Mg only provided a slightly improved corrosion protection in relation to pure TiN coatings, which was limited to certain types of growth defects. The highest Mg containing coatings exhibited a decreased hardness down to 1200 or 1800 HV depending on type of deposition (HV 1200: Ti- and Mg-target with rotating substrate holder, 1800: Mg-plugged Ti-target with static substrate holder), but also showed a strongly improved wear resistance against Al2O3 related to pure TiN. By analyzing the NSS test results it was found that the corrosion behavior of the coated samples did not only depend strongly on the Mg content, but also on the sample individual defect concentrations. Therefore this subject is extensively discussed.
Hard coated steel components are used in a wide application range, mostly for protective, wear resistant and decorative purposes. Despite of these coatings being regarded as relatively dense, there is always a high risk of localized corrosion when a coated low alloyed steel component encounters a surrounding high humidity atmosphere or even an aqueous medium. An approach to enhance the corrosion properties is the addition of magnesium to physical vapor deposited hard coatings, like TiN. It has been found that there is a remarkable increase in corrosion resistance in dependence of magnesium content of the TiMgN coating and its surface properties. In this work the authors will explain the underlying corrosion protection mechanisms by means of electrochemical and analytical studies. The positive impact of magnesium in the coating relates on its preferred dissolution vs. steel. This causes the potential to shift to more negative direction with respect to the steel substrate and additionally leads to a temporarily passivation of the steel due to alkalization of the surrounding electrolyte by formation of magnesium hydroxide.
The copper alloyed stainless steel 1.4542 (X5CrNiCuNb16-4) is used in different areas due to its good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Strength and corrosion resistance can be adjusted by the heat treatment, which is of importance for the application of this alloy. The mechanical properties (strength and hardness) are attributed to the dispersive precipitation of the copper rich ε–Phase. The additional precipitation of chromium carbides can reduce the corrosion resistance. Different ageing states were produced to investigate the precipitation behaviour with various methods. Furthermore, the influence of cold-rolling on the precipitation behaviour was studied in comparison to a solution annealed state without deformation. The microstructure was studied by SEM and the variations of hardness and magnetic proportion were characterised. The electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation
(EPR) was used to determine the corrosion resistance and detect chromium depletion in all heattreated states. The results show that a work hardening accelerates the precipitation rate, while ageing at 600 °C reduces the corrosion resistance due to chromium depletion.
The present study shows the potential of high-resolution imaging and nano-Fourier-transform infrared (nano-FTIR) spectroscopy for corrosion science. The protective oxidation layers of different chlorine-gas treated silicon
carbides (SiCs) were characterized with these techniques. A nitrified SiC showed the highest resistant strength against chlorine corrosion at 1000 °C compared to the other SiCs. Nano-FTIR spectroscopy with a lateral resolution below 40 nm detected differences in the crystallinity of the bulk-SiC and in the transitional region to the protective layer. Furthermore, high-resolution imaging provides deep insight in the interfacial layer between bulk-SiC and the protective oxidation layer on sub-micrometer scale.
Nine different stainless steel alloys were exposed for 5 years under marine environment and their corrosion behaviour was compared and assessed. The investigation of four different surface finishes for all alloys tested further enabled to consider industry-specific features of the surface finish for the material comparison. The results of the exposure tests yield conclusions regarding the influence of alloy composition, surface finish and exposure duration under marine environment. The three duplex stainless steels revealed excellent corrosion resistance even in case of crevices during the 5 years of exposure under the given exposure conditions. Also the molybdenum-alloyed ferritic steel 1.4521 showed good corrosion resistance comparable to the classical austenitic materials 1.4301 and 1.4404.
Melanised cell walls and extracellular polymeric matrices protect rock-inhabiting microcolonial fungi from hostile environmental conditions. How extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) perform this protective role was investigated by following development of the model microcolonial black fungus Knufia petricola A95 grown as a sub-aerial biofilm. Extracellular substances were extracted with NaOH/formaldehyde and the structures of two excreted polymers studied by methylation as well as NMR analyses. The main polysaccharide (~ 80%) was pullulan, also known as α-1,4-; α-1,6-glucan, with different degrees of polymerisation. Αlpha-(1,4)-linked-Glcp and α-(1,6)-linked-Glcp were present in the molar ratios of 2:1. A branched galactofuromannan with an α-(1,2)-linked Manp main chain and a β-(1,6)-linked Galf side chain formed a minor fraction (~ 20%). To further understand the roles of EPS in the weathering of minerals and rocks, viscosity along with corrosive properties were studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The kinetic viscosity of extracellular K. petricola A95 polysaccharides (≈ 0.97 × 10-6 m2 s-1) ranged from the equivalent of 2% (w/v) to 5% glycerine, and could thus profoundly affect diffusion-dominated processes. The corrosive nature of rock-inhabiting fungal EPS was also demonstrated by its effects on the aluminium coating of the AFM cantilever and the silicon layer below.
The development of alkali‐activated materials (AAMs) as an alternative to Portland cement (PC) has seen significant progress in the past decades. However, there still remains significant uncertainty regarding their long term performance when used in steel‐reinforced structures. The durability of AAMs in such applications depends strongly on the corrosion behaviour of the embedded steel reinforcement, and the experimental data in the literature are limited and in some cases inconsistent. This letter elucidates the role of the chemistry of AAMs on the mechanisms governing passivation and chloride‐induced corrosion of the steel reinforcement, to bring a better understanding of the durability of AAM structures exposed to chloride. The corrosion of the steel reinforcement in AAMs differs significantly from observations in PC; the onset of pitting (or the chloride ‘threshold’ value) depends strongly on the alkalinity, and the redox environment, of these binders. Classifications or standards used to assess the severity of steel corrosion in PC appear not to be directly applicable to AAMs due to important differences in pore solution chemistry and phase assemblage.