Galvanic Corrosion of ASTM A1010 Steel Connected to Common Bridge Steels

Abstract

The corrosion behavior of a low chromium-content stainless steel, ASTM A1010 (also under the dual designation ASTM A709 Gr50CR), was investigated. This stainless steel has been identified as a candidate for bridges located in highly corrosive environments where other steels have exhibited poor corrosion resistance. Three conditions likely to occur in bridge environments were investigated: the galvanic corrosion of A1010 connected to dissimilar metals; the crevice corrosion of A1010 plates connected with other A1010 plates; and the effect of various surface preparation techniques on the corrosion behavior of A1010 plates. Each condition was studied during an accelerated cyclic corrosion test. The results from the accelerated corrosion tests are given in terms of rate-of-corrosion and plate thickness loss. The results indicate that the corrosion resistance of A1010 in corrosive environments was significantly different in near-horizontal orientations compared to vertical orientations, A1010 received localized galvanic protection in certain dissimilar steel plate connections, and A1010 was susceptible to pitting corrosion in plate connection details. Additionally, galvanic corrosion of certain common bridge steels connected to A1010 experienced accelerated corrosion rates up to 1.65 times greater than when galvanic corrosion was inhibited.