Abstract
Soviet carbon steel CT-3 plates were exposed in five different places in Havana and the city of Havana (rural, industrial-marine and marine stations). Weight loss was evaluated in periods of six and twelve months at different starting times. Salinity and SO2 concentration in the atmosphere were determined. Relative humidity, air temperature, and rainfall were recorded in three of the corrosion stations. The higher weight loss was obtained at time periods having lower temperature and time of wetness (considered as the time during which relative humidity is over 80%). The influence of salinity and solar radiation is proposed as an explanation for this phenomenon. Changes in time of wetness for a constant time period were not considered significant. Multilinear regressions and correlations between weight loss and pollution (salinity and SO2 concentration) at a fixed exposure period were made. The equation obtained for annual exposures was the following: K(g/m2)=243.7+6.7[Cl−](mg/m2day) The results show that changes in atmospheric corrosion in Cuba are primarily due to salinity and that a base corrosion level for a minimum pollution level can be defined. The good agreement between weight loss and pollution independent of the starting time reveals that it is not an important parameter when pollution is taken into account. Changes in the corrosive action of rain depending on the relation of quantity/time are proposed.
