Electrochemical Behavior of the Welded Joint Between Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel by Means of Electrochemical Noise

Welding process between dissimilar metals during rehabilitation of damaged structural reinforcement by corrosion, has a number of microstructural changes due to the heat generated at the time of joint. These transformations propitiate the heat affected zone to be more susceptible to damage by corrosion. The present work evaluates the corrosion behavior of the area affected by heat between AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel and A615 carbon steel, by means of the electrochemical noise technique. The results of this technique indicate that the connection between the two steels have sufficient corrosion resistance in an alkaline medium, but not in a saline one. Also, the technique showed the predominant form of corrosion. The results show that the use of stainless steel welded with carbon steel in alkaline medium is possible, which represents the pH of a rehabilitated structure.