Corrosion of Mild Steel by Urban River Water

The corrosion processes of mild steel immersed in river water were investigated. The reaction of the Bahlui River on common steel used in domestic and industrial installations was studied. The corrosion of mild steel is an extensive topic approached in different media, yet little information about river water as a corrosive has been reported. The experimental determinations were performed for short term immersion of four alloys in the laboratory. By using Tafel extrapolation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the corrosion of the alloys was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were employed to characterize the morphology of corrosion products and identify their phases. The corrosive activity of river water leads to the formation of inner compact and outer porous layers. The differences between corrosion products formed in the presence of underground and surface waters are described.