BIG DIG PLAGUED WITH

HEAVY CORROSION
Corrosion in the news

Rodrigo Pretel A. Vieira

Corrosion in the news

Title: Big Dig plagued with heavy rust, corrosion, inspectors find

Source: http://www.wcvb.com/news/big-dig-plagued-with-heavy-rust-corrosioninspectors-find/36066986

The article was found in a research of the impacts of corrosion on the big cities.

The article shows the state concerns about heavy rust

on construction joints, missing steel cover plates and
heavy corrosion present in the Big Dig tunnels (Central
Artery / Tunnel Project, Boston).

The major reactions that occurs in this kind of

corrosion (metals) are the electrochemical reactions
between the iron (present on the steel, mainly material
involved in this situation), water (rain and humidity,
usually) and oxygen (air)
The general reactions occurred are given by:
at anode: Fe Fe2+ + 2eat cathode: O2 + 2H2O + 4e- 4OHcombined: 4Fe + 3O2 + 2H2O = 2Fe2O3 H2O

The outgoing of the combined reaction is the hydrated ferric

oxide, also known as rust.