Steel Pitting Corrosion Analysis, Using a High Vaccum Epoxy Penetration Technique

Abstract

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;"> <span lang="EN-US">An epoxy penetration technique was used to reproduce and analyze the pitting corrosion process occurred at a steel coupon surface. The samples were exposed to the resin under high vacuum conditions, in order to fulfill the pits caused by the corrosion process. With this technique, a 3D image of the corrosion damages was obtained.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">Once the image of the damaged surface was obtained, a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used to analyze the morphology of the pits exhibited by the steel sample. The results were satisfactory, as different parameters such as the diameter, shape and depth of the pits originated, along with the corrosion preferential path, could be established.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">According to the results, the use of the epoxy penetration technique may be considered as alternating pitting corrosion analysis technique.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span> </p