Corrosion of Mild Steel in the Tidal Waters of the Afon Dyfi and a Comparison with the River Thames

Abstract

Exposure of bare mild steel specimens for two years to the tidal waters of the Afon Dyfi estuary has shown that overall corrosion rates (weight-loss) and rates of pitting decrease with time of exposure to the relatively unpolluted waters in a similar manner to the corresponding rates in the heavily polluted Thames. Comparison between results in the two rivers shows that the corrosion risks are greater in the Afon Dyfi than in the Thames. This is explained from consideration of the greater oxygen content and higher rate of movement in the Dyfi.