LAUSR

The effect of moisture content and soil texture on the corrosion behavior of mild steel coupons buried for 3 years in different soils was estimated from weight loss measurements and electrochemical techniques such as Tafel plots and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that the rate of corrosion and intensity of corrosion attack significantly depend on the soil’s moisture content and on the soil type. Corrosion was found to be severe in clayey soil compared to that in mixed and sandy soils. Morphological analysis of the corroded specimens performed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of amorphous oxides and low-intense crystalline phases of goethite and hematite on the surface of the mild steel coupons, indicating only the initial stage of corrosion. It is concluded from this study that mild steel undergoes only less intense surface-level corrosion in 3 years when buried underground.