The Relationship Between the Surface Characteristics and Corrosion Properties of Carbon Steel Affected by Abrasive Water-Jet Treatment

Abrasive water-jet treatment (AWT) is applied in this study as a promising surface cleaning method for steel structures. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of changes in the surface properties of steel on the corrosion characteristics of the base steel plate by AWT. The changes in the surface configuration and microstructure of the steel plate obtained at different standoff distances from AWT were compared to those of abrasive blasting. The surface characteristics of the specimens were evaluated for their roughness and micro-structural features. The test results showed that the smaller the standoff distance, the changes in microstructures generated from the increased plastic deformation layers during the AWT became distinct. As the energy reaching the substance during the AWT increased, found the increased surface hardening and the reduced grain size on the plastic deformation sections, which resulted in enhanced corrosion resistance. Hence, it was verified that AWT has a positive effect on the corrosion properties of the base metal as a surface cleaning technic for steel structures.