2001 Volume 50 Issue 5 Pages 203-209
An overview is given of the development of new stainless steels for architectural application that had been accomplished in Japan in 1990s, as well as the results of atmospheric corrosion research that had sustained the advances in corrosion control. Atmospheric exposure tests were widely performed to know the corrosion characteristic of stainless steel. The relationship between the amount of sea salt deposition and the critical alloy content to prevent the corrosion damage of steel was elucidated. Based on those results, 22Cr-Mo, 30Cr-2Mo, and austenitic 6Mo stainless steel were newly developed.
Moreover, rust nucleation and growth behavior in wet/dry process was studied to make clear the mechanism of atmospheric corrosion. In contrast to the weathering process of carbon steel, it was found that the thickness of water layer formed on steel surface is not the critical factor affecting the atmospheric corrosion of stainless steel. Modeling methods of outdoor corrosion environment was also reviewed, this approach will become a significant technique in corrosion control in atmospheric environment in the future.
