Marine atmospheric corrosion of carbon steel in Mauritius

Abstract

A geospatial variation of environmental conditions across Mauritius complicates atmospheric corrosion control and prediction. In the current study, field exposures in four distinct locations have given new insights into the marine atmospheric corrosion behavior of carbon steel in the country. Mauritius shows diverse atmospheric aggressivity with corrosion rates affected by both salinity and humidity. An acute thickness loss of 0.5 mm y-1 was associated with a direct spray of marine aerosols while relative humidity was a key factor in increasing the corrosion rate in inland areas.