LAUSR

Abstract The effect of nickel on the corrosion resistance of weathering steels in acidic atmospheres was investigated by exposure test and electrochemical technique. The results showed that 3.5 wt.% is the optimum nickel content in weathering steels to enhance their atmospheric corrosion resistance. The reason is discussed as follows: once the nickel content exceeds 3.5 wt.%, the nickel content in the rust increases slightly even with a considerable increase of that in weathering steels; the mass ratio of α-FeOOH to γ-FeOOH in the rust almost remains stable; additional nickel has no significant effect on the corrosion current density of the steels.