This paper presents the results of a study examining the Cl− induced corrosion resistance of austenitic, duplex, and martensitic high-strength stainless steels (HSSSs) and a pearlitic prestressing steel using cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP) techniques in simulated alkaline and carbonated concrete solutions. CPP testing found that in alkaline solutions, all HSSSs showed high corrosion resistance at Cl− concentrations from zero to 0.25 M. When exposed to carbonated solutions, corrosion resistance was reduced and only duplex grades S32205 and S32304 exhibited high corrosion resistance. A strong correlation between microstructural defects (e.g., strain-induced martensite) and corrosion damage was observed in the cold-drawn HSSSs.Highlights► High-strength austenitic, martensitic, and duplex stainless steels. ► Corrosion resistance in solutions simulating chloride-contaminated concrete. ► Cold drawing to increase strength degrades corrosion resistance. ► High-strength duplex stainless steels exhibit highest corrosion resistance.

Black liquors produced by pulping different wood species can have different corrosivity towards carbon steel equipment in pulp mills. Inorganic constituents of black liquor alone do not correlate well with the corrosivity of different black liquors. Organic constituents of the black liquor have significant effect on determining its corrosivity. However, understanding of the role of individual organic constituents or group of constituents of black liquors in overall black liquor corrosivity is generally lacking. The objective of this study was to determine the effect selected wood species on the corrosivity of their black liquors which contained similar inorganic constituents. The role of black liquor constituent, pyrocatechols, whose presence in the black liquor has been associated with an increase in corrosion of carbon steel, was also studied. Results from electrochemical tests point to the mechanisms by which the catechols may participate in the accelerated corrosion of carbon steels. This study demonstrates the role of organic constituents of the black liquor in determining its corrosivity.