Conversion electron Mossbauer spectroscopy study of growth and nature of corrosion products on mild steel exposed to different environments

In this study, conversion electron Mossbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) has been utilized for identifying the nature of initial corrosion products formed on the surface of steel under different environments and measurement of relative thickness of corrosion products formed. CEMS studies on mild steel exposed under different environments, viz. mild steel sprayed with (1) distilled water (2) 3% NaCl and (3) mild steel exposed to SO2 were carried out. The initial stable product of corrosion is found to be gamma-FeOOH, which will transform into other oxyhydroxides and oxides, depending on environments. The mechanisms for the corrosion processes occurring under different conditions are also discussed.