Electrochemical behavior of primers applied on 1018 steel as reinforcement in a MH type soil.

The present work analyzes the anticorrosive behavior of three types of coatings applied on AISI 1018 corrugated steel rods of 3/8? diameter, commonly used for soil reinforcement (Tierra Armada). The three coatings were the realkalizing type (cement slurry), the cathodic type (Zinc Chromate) and the inhibitor type (Lead Minium). The corrosion evaluation was carried out by monitoring the corrosion potentials and corrosion rate of the coated and uncoated bars buried in a fine soil predominant in the region of Xalapa, Ver and classified in the SUCS as MH type, simulating the real conditions when the steel as reinforcement remains buried during the whole lifetime of the soil structure. The results of the first 214 days of exposure in a MH soil with 30% of natural humidity are presented. According to the analysis carried out, the steel bars with inhibitor type primary (lead minium) and cathodic type (Zinc Chromate) show a higher efficiency than the bars with realcalinizing type primary (cement slurry) and the bars without any primary applied to them.