C2024-20694 Influence Of The Soil Moisture Level And Differential Aeration Cell On The Corrosion Rate Of Carbon Steel And Zinc Coated Steel

Erwan Diler, Ansbert De Cleene, Philippe Verpoort, Benoit Emo, Souhail Amami, Thomas Urios - Soil is a complex media involving solid particles, gas and liquid phases. Among the many soil parameters influencing the corrosion rate, beyond the pH and resistivity, disregards the microbial activity, the moisture level and the related oxygen diffusion is usually point out as a key parameter. Depending on the soil texture and related ability to retain water, as well as the ground water level, differential aeration corrosion cells (DACC) might appear. Such phenomenon, locally affect the corrosion rate and distribution by galvanic action. This phenomenon is particularly relevant for large metallic pieces such as buried pipes, pills and sheet piling.In this study, an experimental setup composed of 30 coupons in carbon steel or zinc coated steel was exposed in two different soils to a vertical gradient of moisture level. The setup allows measuring the corrosion potential and galvanic current