CORROSION RESISTANCE OF MILD STEEL WELDED JOINTS: ELECTROCHEMICAL ANALYSIS IN FIVE DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA

Temabor Esabunor; Sunday C. Ikpeseni; Mathias  Ekpu; Samuel Sada; Henry Oghenero Orugba

doi:10.4314/njt.v44i1.4

Authors

T. Esabunor Department of Welding and Fabrication Technology, Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara Nigeria
S. C. Ikpeseni Department of Mechanical Engineering, Delta State University Abraka, Nigeria
M. Ekpu Department of Mechanical Engineering, Delta State University Abraka, Nigeria
S. O. Sada Department of Mechanical Engineering, Delta State University Abraka, Nigeria
H. O. Orugba Department of Chemical Engineering, Delta State University Abraka, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/njt.v44i1.4

Keywords:

Corrosion, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Environments, Mild steel, Welded joint, Potentiodynamic polarization, Acidic saline basic neutral

Abstract

This study investigates the corrosion behavior of mild steel welded joints exposed to various environmental media to evaluate their performance and durability in diverse real-world settings. The chosen environments—1M H₂SO₄, 1M NaCl, 1M NaOH, soil, and freshwater—represent a range of corrosive conditions from highly acidic and saline to basic and neutral, simulating scenarios that mild steel structures may encounter in industrial, marine, and natural environments. Welded joints were fabricated using optimized welding parameters and subjected to corrosion evaluation through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and potentiodynamic polarization tests. The results revealed that 1M H₂SO₄ caused the highest corrosion rate at 11.31 mm/yr and a corrosion current (Icorr) of 972.42 μA/cm², while freshwater exhibited the lowest corrosion rate of 1.55 mm/yr and an Icorr of 132.87 μA/cm². These findings underscore the significant influence of environmental conditions on the corrosion behavior of welded steel joints. The study recommends the use of advanced protective coatings or alternative materials for structures in highly corrosive environments.

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