ASTM G162-99(2004)

Standard Practice for Conducting and Evaluating Laboratory Corrosions Tests in Soils

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This practice provides a controlled corrosive environment that has been utilized to produce relative corrosion information.
The primary application of the data from this practice is to evaluate metallic materials for use in soil environments.
This practice may not duplicate all field conditions and variables such as stray currents, microbiologically influenced corrosion, non-homogeneous conditions, and long cell corrosion. The reproducibility of results in the practice is highly dependent on the type of specimen tested and the evaluation criteria selected as well as the control of the operating variables. In any testing program, sufficient replicates should be included to establish the variability of the results.
Structures and components may be made of several different metals; therefore, the practice may be used to evaluate galvanic corrosion effects in soils (see Guide G 71).
Structures and components may be coated with sacrificial or noble metal coatings, which may be scratched or otherwise rendered discontinuous (for example, no coating on the edges of metal strips cut from a wide sheet). This test is useful to evaluate the effect of defective metallic coatings.
Structures and components may be coated or jacketed with organic materials (for example, paints and plastics), and these coatings and jackets may be rendered discontinuous. The test is useful to evaluate the effect of defective or incompletely covering coatings and jackets.
The corrosivity of soils strongly depends on soluble salt content (related parameters are soil resistivity, see Test Method G 57, and chemistry), acidity or alkalinity (measured by soil pH, see Test Method G 51), and oxygen content (loose, for example, sand, or compact, for example, clay, soils are extreme examples). The manufacturer, supplier, or user, or combination thereof, should establish the nature of the expected soil environment(s) and select the test environment(s) accordingly. Multiple types of soil can be used ...
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers procedures for conducting laboratory corrosion tests in soils to evaluate the corrosive attack on engineering materials.
1.2 This practice covers specimen selection and preparation, test environments, and evaluation of test results.
1.3 This practice does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2004
• ICS: 91.100.01 - Construction materials in general
• Technical Committee: G01 - Corrosion of Metals
• Drafting Committee: G01.10 - Corrosion in Soils

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM G162-99 - Standard Practice for Conducting and Evaluating Laboratory Corrosions Tests in Soils
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Replaced By: ASTM G162-99(2010) - Standard Practice for Conducting and Evaluating Laboratory Corrosions Tests in Soils
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2010

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation:G162–99 (Reapproved 2004)
Standard Practice for
Conducting and Evaluating Laboratory Corrosions Tests in
Soils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation G162; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope G51 Test Method for Measuring pH of Soil for Use in
Corrosion Testing
1.1 This practice covers procedures for conducting labora-
G57 Test Method for Field Measurement of Soil Resistivity
tory corrosion tests in soils to evaluate the corrosive attack on
Using the Wenner Four-Electrode Method
engineering materials.
G71 Guide for Conducting and Evaluating Galvanic Corro-
1.2 Thispracticecoversspecimenselectionandpreparation,
sion Tests in Electrolytes
test environments, and evaluation of test results.
G102 Practice for Calculation of Corrosion Rates and
1.3 This practice does not purport to address all of the
Related Information from Electrochemical Measurements
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3. Significance and Use
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1 This practice provides a controlled corrosive environ-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ment that has been utilized to produce relative corrosion
2. Referenced Documents information.
3.2 The primary application of the data from this practice is
2.1 ASTM Standards:
to evaluate metallic materials for use in soil environments.
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
3.3 This practice may not duplicate all field conditions and
D1654 Test Method for Evaluation of Painted or Coated
variables such as stray currents, microbiologically influenced
Specimens Subjected to Corrosive Environments
corrosion, non-homogeneous conditions, and long cell corro-
D2570 Test Method for Simulated Service Corrosion Test-
sion. The reproducibility of results in the practice is highly
ing of Engine Coolants
dependent on the type of specimen tested and the evaluation
G1 Practice for Preparing, Cleaning, and Evaluating Corro-
criteria selected as well as the control of the operating
sion Test Specimens
variables. In any testing program, sufficient replicates should
G3 Practice for ConventionsApplicable to Electrochemical
be included to establish the variability of the results.
Measurements in Corrosion Testing
3.4 Structures and components may be made of several
G4 Guide for Conducting Corrosion Tests in FieldApplica-
differentmetals;therefore,thepracticemaybeusedtoevaluate
tions
galvanic corrosion effects in soils (see Guide G71).
G16 Guide forApplying Statistics toAnalysis of Corrosion
3.5 Structures and components may be coated with sacrifi-
Data
cial or noble metal coatings, which may be scratched or
G31 Practice for Laboratory Immersion Corrosion Testing
otherwise rendered discontinuous (for example, no coating on
of Metals
the edges of metal strips cut from a wide sheet). This test is
G46 Guide for Examination and Evaluation of Pitting
useful to evaluate the effect of defective metallic coatings.
Corrosion
3.6 Structures and components may be coated or jacketed
with organic materials (for example, paints and plastics), and
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee G01 on Corrosion of these coatings and jackets may be rendered discontinuous. The
Metals and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee G01.10 on Corrosion in
test is useful to evaluate the effect of defective or incompletely
Soils.
covering coatings and jackets.
Current edition approved Nov 1, 2004. Published November 2004. Originally
3.7 The corrosivity of soils strongly depends on soluble salt
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as G162 – 99. DOI:
10.1520/G0162-99R04.
content (related parameters are soil resistivity, seeTest Method
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
G57, and chemistry), acidity or alkalinity (measured by soil
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
pH, see Test Method G51), and oxygen content (loose, for
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. example,sand,orcompact,forexample,clay,soilsareextreme
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
G162–99 (2004)
examples). The manufacturer, supplier, or user, or combination 5. Test Specimen
thereof, should establish the nature of the expected soil
5.1 Material—Prepare the test specimens from the same
environment(s) and select the test environment(s) accordingly.
material as that used in the structures or components being
Multipletypesofsoilcanbeusedtodeterminetheeffectofthis
studied. Alternatively, use test specimens from the actual
variable.
products.
5.2 Size and Shape:
4. Test Apparatus and Conditions
5.2.1 The size and shape of test specimens are dependent on
several factors and cannot be rigidly defined. When determin-
4.1 Container—The container for the soil shall be made
ing corrosion behavior of metals in the laboratory, it is
from a material that is not affected by the soil environment and
advisable to use the largest specimens permissible within the
that does not affect the soil. Container materials, such as glass,
constraints of the test equipment. In general, the ratio of
plastic, or corrosion-resistant metal or alloy, can be used;
surface area to metal volume should be large in order to obtain
however, electrically conductive containers must be electro-
maximum corrosion loss per specimen weight. However,
chemically isolated from the specimens. The size of the
sufficient thickness should be employed to minimize the
container is determined by the volume of soil required for the
3 2 possibility of perforation of the specimen during the test
test. A minimum of 40 cm should be used for each 1 cm of
exposure unless an evaluation of perforation susceptibility is of
exposed metal surface area (see Fig. 1).
interest. When modeling large structures or components, the
4.2 Soil Environment—The container is filled with a soil
size of the specimens should be as large as practical. When
sample of choice. A soil sample from a specific outdoor
modeling small components, the specimen size should be as
location may be retrieved for the test, or a soil sample may be
close as possible to that of the component modeled. When the
prepared with a specific property and chemistry. If necessary,
structure or component is made of two or more metals, the
physical and chemical characteristics of the soil may be
surface area ratio of the test specimen should be similar to the
determined.
structure or component being modeled.
4.2.1 A field soil sample may be utilized for purposes of
5.2.2 When modeling service applications, the shapes of the
conducting a soil corrosion test in a specific environment. specimens should approximate the shapes in the application.
Complex shapes are frequently simplified for testing purposes.
4.2.2 Laboratory soil samples may be prepared by using
For some tests, the specimen may be taken from the manufac-
washed sand, (that is, No. 2 silica sand) clean clay (that is,
turing line or cut from manufactured pieces (for example, short
bentonite) or other uniform known media.
sections of pipes, wires, cables).
4.2.3 Soil Chemistry—The field soil sample and the labora-
5.3 Specimen Preparation:
tory soil sample are saturated with a known electrolyte chosen
5.3.1 Prepare the edges of the test specimens so as to
for the test. Typically, the electrolyte is added to the soil of
eliminate all sheared or cold worked metal, except for cold
choice in the container. A typical electrolyte for use with
working introduced by stamping for identification. Shearing
washed sand is ASTM corrosive water (see Test Method
can, in some cases, introduce residual stress that may cause
D2570). With field soil samples, deionized or distilled water
considerable attack. Therefore, do not use specimens with
(see Test Method D2570)D2570 is commonly used. Periodi-
sheared edges unless this effect is being evaluated. Finish the
cally, deionized or distilled water (see Specification D1193)is
edges by machining or polishing. The slight amount of cold
added to maintain the soil in a saturated condition. A non-
work resulting from the machining process should not intro-
saturated condition can be maintained if desired.
duce serious error.
4.2.4 Temperature—The test is conducted under laboratory
5.3.2 The specimen metallurgical and surface condition
ambient temperature unless the effect of temperature is being
shouldbesimilartotheapplicationbeingmodeled.Inallcases,
evaluated.
remove surface contamination, such as dirt, grease, oil and
4.2.5 Test Specimen—The test specimen is buried in the soil thick oxides, prior to weighing and exposure t
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