Development of new mathematical models for the estimation of atmospheric corrosion rates in subtropical environments

Abstract

In this communication we report an investigation on the mathematical modelling of atmospheric corrosion rates in archipelagic subtropical environments based on the variability of environmental parameters related to both weather factors and pollutant distributions. Experimental data describing the degradation of carbon steel were collected over 3 years from 74 test sites distributed along the seven islands that form the Canary Islands (Spain). The main parameters introduced in the models were the deposition rates for chloride and sulphur dioxide, time of wetness and exposure time. A set of qualitative variables was introduced to account for the variations occurring at different sites at early exposures as to characterize their initial local characteristics. The impact of the new parameters was evaluated from the models, and good fitting correlations between experimental and estimated data have been achieved