Correlation between Electrochemical Corrosion and Structural State of Steel by Simulation of Operation Conditions of Railway Wheels
Corrosion mechanism and corrosion rate of wheel steel of different chemical and structural compositions have been investigated. It has been shown that “white layers”, variation in grains size and structure streakiness of wheel steel increase corrosion rate. Wheel steel with vanadium additives corrodes more quickly than that without vanadium. Non-metallic inclusions are the centers of corrosion nucleation and their influence on corrosion depends on inclusion type. Corrosion mechanism of wheel steel has been discussed.