Effect of Microalloying Elements on the Corrosion Resistance of Low‐density Steel

Fe–Mn–Al–C low-density steel, featuring lightweight and high strength-toughness, shows promise for automotive applications. This chapter examines the Cr/Ni alloying effects on its marine atmospheric corrosion resistance. Alloying enhances protective oxide layers (Cr 2 O 3 ) and promotes corrosion-resistant B2 phases. Using accelerated wet–dry cyclic tests and corrosion big data analytics, we demonstrate how Cr/Ni additions improve durability while balancing cost-efficiency. Electrochemical analyses reveal alloying mechanisms, with machine learning enabling predictive corrosion modeling. The research provides a framework for developing next-generation lightweight steels with optimized mechanical corrosion performance.