Electrolytic Behavior of Ferrous and Non‐Ferrous Metals in Soil‐Corrosion Circuits

Abstract

Measurements have been made on the behavior of a variety of metals exposed to corrosion in soils having widely different chemical and physical properties. The metals studied were low‐carbon steel, two varieties of stainless steel, copper, low‐copper brass, zinc and lead. A specially designed corrosion cell, previously used in studying the corrosion of steel, was employed. The current required to bring the electrodes of the corrosion cell to the same potential was selected as the measure of the corrosion of steel and zinc, and of other metals in certain environments. For all other materials and environments in which the corrosion cell did not develop a definite polarity, the minimum current required to protect the cathode of the cell from corrosion was taken as equal to the corrosion current. The rates of corrosion in the laboratory are compared with the results of long‐time field tests. The electrode at which the rate of corrosion is controlled is indicated for the different materials and environments.