Atmospheric corrosion of low carbon steel exposed in a coastal tropical zone of Manabí, Ecuador with the presence of an estuary, was determined. Specimens of low carbon steel were exposed at six outdoor exposure sites located at different distances from the sea. The atmosphere was classified as coastal. The behavior of chloride deposition rate versus distance from the sea was anomalous due to the presence of an estuary. Corrosion by weight loss was evaluated up to 1 year of exposure. Corrosivity category of the atmosphere high (C4) is the most predominant classification level in the zone. Different morphologies of corrosion products were identified by SEM. Magnetite and akaganeite were the main crystalline phases observed. Protective ability index previously proposed for rust layers is not useful to apply in coastal sites.
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