Corrosion analysis of ferrous hull plate samples from wrecks in Scapa Flow
Date January 2014
Event ID 1173207
Category Documentary Reference
Type Specialist Report
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1173207
Corrosion analysis based on the Weins Number Methodology was undertaken on three samples (nos 4-6) of hull plating recovered in April 2013 from Sms Karlsruhe under scheduled monument consent from Historic Scotland (granted 27 March 2013). Laboratory analysis by Intertek indicates that the plating comprises low to medium carbon steel. The samples had probable original plating thicknesses of 11-14mm. All samples exhibited coherent, solid, concretion layers with iron contents between 35-52% by weight, with pitting corrosion and perforation of plating in places. The average corrosion rate from the scuttling in 1919 to recovery, as calculated from concretion data, varied from 0.0147-0.0307mmm/year across the samples, indicating some local variability in corrosion rates.
Information from M.Skelhorn (Salvage and Marine Operations, MoD) 2014
