Effect of Si Content on the Corrosion Behavior of 420 MPa Weathering Steel

The effect of Si content (0.12%, 0.34%, and 0.48%) on the corrosion behavior of weathering steel in a simulated marine environment was investigated in a dry/wet alternating cycle corrosion experiment. Corrosion weight gain, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical methods were used to measure the regularity and nature of the rust. The results show that the corrosion process could be divided into an initial stage where the corrosion rate increased and a later stage where the corrosion rate decreased before remaining stable. The corrosion rate was the lowest for a Si content in the weathering steel of 0.48%. The corrosion products of all three steel groups contains α-FeOOH, β-FeOOH, γ-FeOOH, Fe3O4, and large amounts of amorphous compounds. Furthermore, Si benefits the transformation of β-FeOOH and γ-FeOOH to stable phases. The addition of the Si alloying element is beneficial to the formation of dense and compact rust layers that enhance the electrochemical resistance of weathering steel and silicon oxide influences the self-corrosion potential of the corrosion products.