Abnormal relationship between rust particles size and rust layer compactness of weathering steels

In order to reveal evolution of the rust layer during atmospheric corrosion, commercial weathering steel (WS) 09CuPCrNi and a recently developed bainite WS were subjected to a salt fog test. The protection and compactness of the rust layer were evaluated by electrochemical analysis, absorption-desorption test, etc. The experimental results indicate that more compact rust layer could be derived from the rust particles with larger size. The well-established notion that the rust particle growth can induce the decrement of corrosion resistance of WS. However, the present investigation shows that the notion might not be universally accurate. The unusual result means that the rust particles might grow anisotropically during corrosion.