Abstract
Electrochemical properties and microstructure examinations have been performed on three Friction Stir Welded (FSW) shipbuilding steels (DH36, S690QL, 80HLES). Galvanic coupling has been assessed using Scanning ElectroChemical Microscopy (SECM) and an electrochemical mini-cell in order to subsequently identify possible FSW-related damages of these steels. The galvanic macro-coupling between the base material and the welded zone is measured by the SECM tip. The 80HLES steel has greater differences in surface hardness and electrochemical reactivity which lead to a galvanic coupling inducing an initiation to corrosion.
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