INFLUENCE OF SURFACE ROUGHNESS ON THE RATE OF CORROSION PENETRATION INTO THE STEEL

This research analyses the influence of surface roughness on the rate of corrosion penetration into the steel. The test specimens were mechanically treated with fine abrasive jet to make their surface slightly rougher than it was in the initial state. The test specimens were then kept in conditions of atmospheric corrosion for 90 days to be tested afterwards by weighing, i.e. by the mass loss method. The analysis showed that a slight increase in surface roughness facilitated faster development of corrosion mechanisms, thus drastically increasing the rate of corrosion penetration into the material. Changes in surface roughness can be also caused by abrasion or erosion damage, so it is important to choose adequate surface protection technologies for prevention of unwanted wear of the steel.