Why it is important to understand the chemical composition of the corrosion product form during seawater corrosion of steels? How this information help us to combat corrosion? Any thoughts?
By knowing the composition of rhe sea water ,i.e.,ionic composition ,one determines how the seawater is conductive.This is very important in seawater corrosion of metallic alloys in seawater.
You may find a valuable thoughts recently presented by Philippe Refait et al. in [1]. I hope it helpful, as its contents related the corrosion product layers forming on carbon steel in natural seawater and the link between the mineralogical composition of these layers and the corrosion mechanisms.
Best regards
[1]Article Corrosion of Carbon Steel in Marine Environments: Role of th...