Effect of surface conditions and relative humidity on hydrogen permeation behavior of zinc coated steels during wet and dry corrosion

Abstract

The effects of scratch, surface element composition, and relative humidity on the hydrogen permeation behavior of zinc coated steels during wet and dry cycle corrosion tests were investigated. The permeating hydrogen was measured electrochemically, and a size controlled scratch was formed on zinc coated steels with a laser machining technique. The hydrogen permeation current was observed on the zinc coated steels with a formed scratch (S-coated): no significant hydrogen permeation current was observed on the zinc coated steel without the formed scratch (NS-coated) or on steel with zinc coating removed by mechanical grinding (R-steel). The zinc corrosion products effectively reduced the hydrogen permeation current from the S-coated at low relative humidity. The total amount of permeating hydrogen per unit area of formed scratch was independent of the area of the formed scratch in wet and dry cycling.