Depth profiles of akaganéite, goethite and maghemite on A1010, HPS and weathering steel panels after wet-dry corrosion tests

The panels of high chromium steel (A1010), high-performance steel (HPS 70W) and weathering steel (WS) were exposed to accelerated salt-spray corrosion test for 1 week and to less aggressive test for additional 13 weeks. After the tests, the corrosion products formed were extracted layer after layer and examined as a function of their depth with Mössbauer transmission spectroscopy. In the case of A1010 steel, the amounts of goethite (α-FeOOH) and akaganéite (β-FeOOH) were almost equal along the depth of the corroded layer up to ∼20 μm. The rust layers on HPS and WS panels were much thicker, respectively up to ∼0.6 mm and ∼1 mm, poorly adherent and contained mostly akaganéite near the metal–rust interface, α-FeOOH increasingly further away, and – after long exposure – also up to 20% Fe as maghemite (γ-Fe 2 O 3 ). Formation of β-FeOOH near the interface was promoted by chloride concentrated by spray-dry cycles. The microstructure and depth profiles of identified species, and especially the role of β-FeOOH, are discussed.