Mechanical Behavior of B500c Steel with an Aluminum Layer Coating in a Marine Environment

Abstract

The present study examines the mechanical behavior and corrosion resistance in dual phase B500c reinforced steel used in concrete structures, before and after applying a layer of aluminum coating in intense corrosion environment. The aluminum layer was applied on the steel bars via thermal process with a flame spray gun and an average layer of 100 μm was created. The 90-day exposure corrosion tests performed in laboratory salt spray environment resulted in 0.29% mass loss of the specimen with aluminum coating while the noncoated specimen (bare) presented a mass loss of 13.5%. Similarly, the mechanical properties in tensile testing remained stable in all cases during different exposure times in contrast to bare specimens in which the strength properties followed mass loss ratio reduction while a dramatic reduction in ductility properties was also noticed. Roughness measurements were also performed in the reinforced steel, either with aluminum coating or without aluminum coating. The effects on friction coefficient and the wear rate were estimated using the weighting method, and the relevant results are presented.