Influence of ultraviolet light irradiation on corrosion behavior of weathering steel with and without TiO2-coating in 3 mass% NaCl solution

Abstract In this study the influence of ultraviolet (UV) light on the corrosion behavior of weathering steel with and without TiO 2 coating has been investigated in 3% NaCl solution, using anodic polarization, dipping and dropping tests. In polarization tests a large negative shift of corrosion potential appeared for the TiO 2 -coated specimen in UV light. The weight loss of the steels with and without TiO 2 film increased under UV light in the dipping test, while they decreased in the dropping test. The rust formed on the weathering steel showed a semiconductor like behavior, similar to that shown by TiO 2 film.