Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the most commonly used steel pad hooks used in the Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) industry. Stainless Steel (316L) (SS) uncoated (CS) and Centrifugal Hot Dip Galvanised (SHDG) St37 steel hooks have been subjected to salt spray corrosion tests in a 5% NaCl solution for 10 days to simulate harsh industrial conditions in accordance with the ASTM B117 salt spray method. Surface changes were examined at intervals using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) to assess corrosion product formation and morphological alterations. The results demonstrated superior corrosion resistance in SHDG hooks compared to SS hooks, with the SHDG samples showing minimal surface rust and the formation of protective zinc oxide and hydroxide layers. The study concludes that SHDG provides significant corrosion protection for steel components in saline environments, offering an economical and effective solution for enhancing the durability of GFRC structures.

Keywords:Steel hooks; 316 L; St37; Centrifuged hop dip galvanization; ASTM B117