Influence of soil variability on the corrosion of buried hot-dip galvanized steel

A reliable electricity supply is vital to national economies and human livelihoods, making the protection of grid infrastructure essential. The metallic grounding network of power grids buried underground is exposed to complex soil conditions, including varying moisture, resistivity, and pH levels. Nine soil sites in northern China were selected for the analysis of physicochemical properties. The corrosion behavior of hot-dip galvanized Q235 steel was examined through corrosion morphology and product analysis. And the corrosion products at different stages were analyzed and mainly included oxides or hydroxides of both Zn and Fe with different contents. As the soil corrosiveness and exposure time increased, the corrosion severity intensified. The galvanized coating initially protected the steel matrix, but its effectiveness diminished over time. Monitoring corrosion and implementing targeted anti-corrosion measures are crucial for ensuring the safe and stable operation of power grid equipment.