Abstract:
The corrosion resistance of both welded and unwelded bars of Fe-Cr-Ni and Fe-Cr-Mn austenitic stainless steel alloys embedded in concrete was studied. Welded bars have been transiently either in an active or passive condition revealing its vulnerability to pitting corrosion, while unwelded bars have shown a stable passive state. The corrosion of the welded bars is mostly caused by the existence of weld surface defects, and by galvanic effects which are more considerable in the welded high manganese alloys.
