Understanding the Effects of Surface Temperatures on the Atmospheric Corrosion of Carbon Steel Alloy in Cold Arctic/Sub-Arctic Climate

Abstract The main goal of this paper is to measure the surface temperature of carbon steel alloy, characterize corrosion products, and correlate the surface temperature and atmospheric corrosion rates when exposed to ever-changing Arctic and sub-Arctic climates. Samples are exposed to multiple climate regions within the state and are unique to the arctic conditions within Alaska (coastal maritime, inner-coastal maritime, and interior continental areas). Each region represents varying temperature, moisture, and chloride exposures. Further unique to each Alaskan region are the extended periods of solar irradiation exposure. Combining these unique variables will allow optimal conditions to analyze correlations between material surface temperature and its associated corrosion rate. Plain carbon steel samples are exposed to atmospheric conditions in two orientations: 1) unshaded, exposed to direct radiation from the sunlight and to varying, arctic environmental conditions 2) shaded, unexposed to direct radiation from the sunlight and to direct exposure from the varying, arctic environmental conditions. Furthermore, Black Body (BB) Samples will also be included in each orientation to further characterize the surface temperature in relation to the solar flux irradiation exposure. Accompanying the surface temperature samples will also be mass loss samples, which will characterize the corrosion rate of each set of sample coupons.