Bethlehem-vs-US-Steel weathering steel bridge fingerprint

Tom's first job at Bethlehem Steel. A highway bridge plate with terrible toughness was blamed on Bethlehem; Tom showed by chromium content that it was actually US Steel weathering-steel chemistry. Companion case to the Gulf of Mexico pipeline at §9.p3–§9.p9.

That was one of my first jobs at Bethlehem Steel. They had a steel pipe — actually it was steel plate — that had terrible toughness, and all I got was a small little piece. It was part of a highway bridge on the interstate highway system that had just been built. I got one little piece, we measured the composition, and it was what's called weathering steel. It had small amounts of intentional nickel, copper, and chromium. Bethlehem Steel used nickel and copper for its corrosion resistance. US Steel used chromium and nickel with no copper. Just differences between the steel companies. The company that had used it and had this big expensive repair on the bridge sent it back to Bethlehem and said, "Your steel is junk." I analyzed it, and I wrote back — I wrote the letter report to my boss's boss — and I wrote, "Yes, you're right. It is junk. It's got chromium in it. Go talk to US Steel."

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