This study investigated the main corrosion agents in four electric energy station in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, three on the coast and one in Porto Alegre (capital of Rio Grande do Sul). The objective was to determine the corrosion rates of various metallic materials exposed to the aggressive agents present in the stations atmosphere. Loss mass experiments of the materials exposed in real time in the electric stations, soil potential monitoring, soil resistivity measurement, soil chemical analysis, and micrographic and chemical analysis of the materials after exposure in the study sites were performed. The loss mass experiments were performed using the International Organization of Standardization, ISO, 8407, 8565 e 9223 a 9227. The soil resistivity was determined using the Wenner method and the micrographs and chemical analysis of the corrosion products were obtained using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy, respectively. Results showed significant change in the mass of steel and cooper, mainly in the stations located on the coast. Although the corrosive agents are present in the soil, the high corrosion rates on the coast were strongly associated with the marine atmosphere. All station soils presented high resistivity, which implies low aggressiveness to metallic materials. With these conclusions, it is evident that the procedures and precautions related to corrosion of the metallic components exposed to conditions of extreme aggressiveness, such as those in the presence of chloride ions and solid particulates, cannot be the same as the ones used for the atmospheres free of these components.
corrosion; corrosion test; electric station; soil resistance; soil potential
