Reverse bend fatigue tests have been conducted upon notched 1018 steel specimens in sea water as a function of constant cathodic potential. As has been reported by others, cathodic polarization was found to restore an endurance limit. The value for this parameter (endurance limit) was observed to initially increase with decreasing potential, to peak in the range −1.10 ⩾ ϕ⩾−1.25 V (SCE) and, finally, to decrease with further cathodic polarization. Interestingly, the maximum endurance limit for specimens cathodically polarized in sea water was approximately 100% greater than for fatigue in air. Possible explanations for this endurance limit enhancement are considered, and it is concluded that the calcareous deposit which commonly occurs upon cathodically polarized surfaces in sea water is either directly or indirectly responsible.

Subject
Cathodic polarization, Corrosion fatigue, Water, Materials, Corrosion cracking, Stress cracking, Stress, Constants, Scale formation, Steel, Electric potential, Endurance limit, Calcareous deposits
© 1978 National Association of Corrosion Engineers
1978
You do not currently have access to this content.