Corrosion of 316L Stainless Steel used for Building Applications in Marine–Urban Atmospheres: A Case Study from Genoa, Italy
Publication: Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 28, Issue 3
Abstract
This study concerns the corrosion behavior of a 316L stainless steel railing installed in an aggressive marine–urban atmosphere, located about 400 m as the crow flies from the sea, in Genoa, a coastal city in northwestern Italy. Despite the well-known relevance of surface finishes in determining the degree of resistance to atmospheric corrosion, the initial surface finish of the material used could not be ascertained. Only 3 months after it was erected, the railing showed, upon visual inspection, reddish-brown halos and spotted deposits distributed diffusely all over the structure. To investigate the likely causes of these sudden and unexpected corrosion phenomena, the morphology of the corrosion and the surface chemical compounds were examined using microscopic (optical and scanning electron, with an electron probe microanalyzer equipped with an energy-dispersive spectrometer) and profilometry (no-contact three-dimensional optical profiling) techniques. The morphology of the steel surface finish on the specific material used for the structure was found to be unsuitable for its designated use in such an aggressive atmosphere. Chloride occurring along the constituent grain boundaries of the rough surface finish triggered intergranular corrosion, leading to grain fall out and subsequent significant localized corrosion.
Practical Applications
Stainless steel is one of a group of ferrous alloys that contain chromium in order to prevent the iron from rusting. Different types of stainless steel are characterized by different percentages of chromium, which mainly determines their resistance to corrosion and their price. The resistance to corrosion and staining, low maintenance and ease of cleaning, and pleasant aesthetics make stainless steel a material widely used in diverse building and architectural applications. Besides the chemical composition, the surface finish of stainless steel is a key factor in determining the durability and appearance of structures. The key message of this work is to alert building engineers to pay careful attention to the choice among not only different stainless steels, but also, and mainly, the different surface finishes. An inappropriate or incorrectly surfaced finish, even on a high-grade stainless steel, can rapidly impair the corrosion resistance of the steel structure, as exemplified in this case of an aggressive maritime coastal environment.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge Carlo Bottino for his useful support in relation to microscopy techniques and Giorgio Bruzzone (Institute of Marine Engineering—National Research Council, Genoa, Italy) for sample preparation and for his skillful technical support.
The research and preparation of the article were funded by Institutional Grants from the National Research Council of Italy—Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (CNR–IAS), Genoa, Italy.
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Published In
Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 28 • Issue 3 • September 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 12, 2021
Accepted: May 3, 2022
Published online: Jun 22, 2022
Published in print: Sep 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Nov 22, 2022
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