Mild Steel Pipeline Weld Corrosion
This article is based on a presentation by Igor Chaves of the 2012 ACA Road Show Seminars.
Welding is widely recognized as a powerful and reliable technique for the construction industry and for infrastructure. Most of these involve the use of mild and low alloy steels and they can be found in many heavy industrial applications including pipelines. However, when exposed to the marine environments mild and low alloy steels are prone to corrosion, mainly in the form of pitting attack, and usually this is particularly severe in the Heat Affected Zone of welds. This may influence the long-term safety and reliability of welded structures in marine environments. Unfortunately corrosion can occur even with the use of modern prevention and mitigation techniques such as protective coatings and cathodic protection, particularly if these are not well-maintained or where they are not feasible.