Effect of particle size on the electrochemical corrosion behavior of X70 pipeline steel

In this study, by using a standard quartz replace of sandy soil particles, the effect of soil particle size (0.1-0.25 mm, 0.6-1.0 mm) on the electrochemical corrosion behavior of X70 pipeline steel in sandy soil corrosive environment simulated by 3.5 wt% sodium chloride (NaCl) was investigated through polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technology. The results indicated that the polarization resistance of X70 steel decreased with decreasing particle size. For all polarization curves, the right shift of cathodic branch with decreasing particle size, suggesting that the cathode oxygen reduction process is accelerated. The corrosion of X70 steel is controlled by the process of cathode diffusion and oxygen reduction. This can be attributed to the effect of gas/liquid/solid three-phase boundary (TPB) zone on cathodic process of X70 steel, and the corrosion rate is mainly determined by the cathodic reaction. EIS of X70 steel consisted of two capacitive loops with 7, 60 and 90 days buried corrosion, and the charge transfer resistance of X70 steel increased with increasing particle size.