The corrosion behavior of zinc-rich paints on steel: Influence of simulated salts deposition in an offshore atmosphere at the steel/paint interface

The corrosion behavior of an epoxy zinc-rich paint on interface-contaminated carbon manganese-silicon steel was studied. SEM observation on the cross-section of the paint indicates that the zinc corrosion products grew from the surface to the inner of the paint and salts contamination promoted the growth at locations close to the steel/paint interface. The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy show that the corrosion resistance of the contaminated paint was significantly influenced by diffusion of zinc corrosion products during the initial stage of immersion, and diffusion of iron corrosion products at the end of immersion. Three transmission line models were applied to account for the corrosion process of the uncontaminated and contaminated zinc-rich paints.