Corrosion Measurements of Reinforcing Steel by Different Electrochemical Techniques

Electrochemical techniques of the corrosion measurements of reinforcing steeI in concrete have been evaluated. These techniques include half-cell potential measurements, impressed voltage method, impressed current method and potentiostatic polarization technique. The results of corrosion behaviour of the steel in both 5%NaCl and 5%MgSO4 show that each electrochemical technique provides some information about the condition of the steel bar or the corrosivity of the environment being evaluated, yet none provides a complete data regarding the corrosion resistance of reinforcing steel in aggressive media

New Measures Taken by China's Steel Industry

Since China began to pursue the policies of reform and opening, its iron and steel industry has been following the strategic principle of making use of "two resources, two markets and two kinds of funds," and has made eyecatching progress in expanding opening to the outside world and international cooperation. In 1993, the industry utilized some US$900 million in foreign capital,

Relationships and Evolving Networks of Rural Manufacturing Clusters: A Case Study in Yucheng County, Henan Province of China

The evolution of networks in rural industrial clusters,in particular in the context of China has been paid more attention to in the world.Applying the theory and techniques of social network analysis (SNA),this study is with particular regard to the business network relationships and their evolutionary dynamics of steel measuring tape manufacturing clustered in Nanzhuang Village,Yucheng County of Henan Province,China,which is important for better understanding the industrial and regional development in less developed rural areas.From data collected by comprehensive questionnaire survey in 2002 and mass interviews with 60 enterprises and assembling families and several government authorities in 2002,2003,2004,2005 and 2008,four types of networks are identified: spin-off,consulting,communication and cooperative.The characteristic of these networks is outlined in detail.Compared with the high-tech clusters of typical developed areas,the networks that have evolved in traditional manufacturing clusters are more affected by emotive linkages.The cluster networks are shown to exhibit a polycentric hierarchical structure.The family relationships are the dominate spin-off channels of enterprises,while the supply and demand relationships and the mobility of the skilled workers are also important paths of network learning,and the cooperation relationships are comparatively stable.Besides the root enterprises,the middle-sized enterprises are comparatively more active than small-sized enterprises,and the intermediary agencies and the service institutions act as bridges of the inter-enterprises cooperation.By analysis of the structure of networks and the interactions between the networks,the four stages of network evolution are also identified.The four stages are dominated by the family networks,the internal division production networks,the local innovation networks and the global supply networks respectively,and they play different roles in cluster development.

Corrosion Behavior of Rusted 550 MPa Grade Offshore Platform Steel

The corrosion behavior of a rusted 550 MPa grade offshore platform steel in Clcontaining environment was investigated.The results revealed that the corrosion process can be divided into initial stage in which corrosion rate increased with accumulation of corrosion products and later stage in which homogeneous and compact rust layer started to protect steel substrate out of corrosion mediums.On the contrary,structural analysis of rust layers by X-ray diffraction showed that α-FeOOH increased from 1.3% to 3.6% and the Fe3O4 increased from 1.0% to 1.5% while γ-FeOOH reduced slightly according to corrosion time increased from 30 cycles to 73 cycles.The results of electron probe microanalysis indicated that Cr concentrated mainly in the inner region of the rust,inner/outer interface especially,whereas Ni and Cu were uniformly distributed all over the rust after 73 corrosion cycles.According to electrochemical measurements,it was found that the corrosion rate of rusted steel reduced from 0.61 mm/a after 45 cycles to 0.34 mm/a after 85 cycles,44.3% reduction approximately,and Rrust values increased with increment of corrosion time.Therefore,formation of compact inner rust layer and enrichment of Cr are important to improve corrosion resistance of offshore platform steel.

Magnetic State of Deformed Austenite Before and After Martensite Nucleation in Austenitic Stainless Steels

The effect of the increase in the paramagnetic susceptibility of austenite up to the true value of the deformation-induced martensite transition point es has been experimentally established in steels X6CrNiTil8-10 （correspon＆ ing to AISI 321 steels）. At this point nucleation and accumulation of martensite with the increase in the extent of de- formation but at a constant magnetic state of austenite takes place.