Atmospheric Corrosion Behavior of Carbon Steel by the Outdoor Exposure Test for 10 Years in Korea

Steel was exposed in an atmospheric environment, and atmospheric environmental factors that include chloride, humidity, SO2, NO2 etc. induced the corrosion of steel. Corrosivity categories classified by SO2 and chloride deposition rate were low, but those classified by TOW were high in the Korean Peninsula, and on these environmental categories, the corrosivity of atmospheres classified by corrosion rate in carbon steel was low medium, C2-C3, and medium, C3 for zinc, copper, and aluminum. This work performed the outdoor exposure test for 10 years at 14 areas in Korea and calculated the atmospheric corrosion rate of carbon steel. The atmospheric corrosion behavior of carbon steel is discussed based on the various corrosion factors. When the corrosion product forms on carbon steel by atmospheric corrosion, cracks may also be formed, and through these cracks, the environmental factors can penetrate into the interior of the product, detach some of the corrosion products and finally corrode locally. Thus, the maximum corrosion rate was about 7.3 times greater than the average corrosion rate. The color difference and glossiness of carbon steel by the 10 year-outdoor exposure tests are discussed based on the corrosion rate and the environmental factors.