THE EFFECT OF MOLYBDENUM ON THE CORROSION BEHAVIOR OF STEEL ALLOY IN SEA-WATER

The present paper is part of a research program aimed at determining the role played by the molybdenum in steel alloys, Seven different iron-base alloys were used containing molybdenum in the range of 0% to 25% wt. Various corrosion techniques were employed, including: weight loss measurements in static conditions for 3.5% NaCl and Gulf seawater and quiescent flow conditions with Atlantic seawater, electrochemical measurements (LPR and Tafel Plot) under static and dynamic conditions using 3.5% NaCl and Gulf seawater. The tested samples in all cases were investigated by metallography. The preliminary results indicated that an increase in molybdenum level does not affect the corrosion rate, and that molybdenum alone, in the absence of chromium, is not as effective as originally believed, whilst in the presence of chromium it acts as a triggering agent to enhance the action of the chromium.