CORROSION OF MATERIALS IN HYDROSPACE 

 PART I IRONS, STEELS, CAST IRONS, AND STEEL PRODUCTS 



Fred M. Reinhart 



U. S. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory 



Port Hueneme, California 



PREFACE 



The U. S. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory is conducting 

 a research program to determine the effects of the deep ocean environ- 

 ment on materials. It is expected that this research will establish 

 the best materials to be used in deep ocean construction. 



A Submersible Test Unit (STU) was designed, on which many 

 test specimens can be mounted. The STU can be lowered to the ocean 

 floor and left for long periods of exposure. 



Thus far, two deep ocean test sites in the Pacific Ocean 

 have been selected. Six STUs have been exposed and recovered. Test 

 Site I (nominal depth of 6,000 feet) is approximately 81 nautical 

 miles west-southwest of Port Hueneme, latitude 33°44'N and longitude 

 120°45'W. Test Site II (nominal depth of 2,500 feet) is 75 nautical 

 miles west of Port Hueneme, latitude 34°06'N and longitude 120°42'W. 



This report presents the results of the evaluations of the 

 irons, steels, low alloy steels, alloy cast irons, metallic coated 

 steel, uncoated and metallic coated steel wire ropes and anchor 

 chains for six exposure periods and two nominal depths. The effect 

 of stress on some of the materials is also reported. 



INTRODUCTION 



Recent interest in, and emphasis on the deep ocean as an 

 operating environment has created a need for information about the 

 behavior of constructional materials in this environment. 



The Naval Facilities Engineering Command of the Office of 

 Naval Materiel is charged with the responsibility for the construction 

 of all fixed naval facilities, including the construction and main- 

 tenance of naval structures . at depths in the oceans. 



Fundamental to the design, construction and operation of 

 structures, and their related facilities, is information about the 

 deterioration of materials in the deep ocean environments. This 



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