The effects of corrosion on our society are enormous, and it destroys more than three percent of the world’s GDP. More than 50% of that amount is caused by atmospheric corrosion . Atmospheric corrosion of steels is an electrochemical interaction resulting between steel and its surrounding atmospheric environment . Atmospheres containing chlorides and/or sulphur dioxide usually lead to much more severe corrosion damage. The most effective and economical way in mitigating atmospheric corrosion of steel is alloying the steel with less than 3 mass% amounts of elements such as Cr, Ni, Cu, and P to develop weathering steels . These steels can exhibit relatively 1–7 times higher corrosion resistance than carbon steel does in many types of atmospheres with certain environmental properties, due to its ability in forming a compact, adherent rust layer (corrosion product) during extended exposure to natural atmospheric environments.
