STRUCTURAL MEMBER MADE OF LOW ALLOYED STEEL CORROSION RESISTANT TO SEA WATER

A structural member for sea water desalination plants that operate according to the flash distillation process, e.g. a flash chamber, which member comes into contact with sea water, said member being made of a low alloyed steel and being at least three to ten times more resistant than St 37-type steel to the static and dyanamic corrosion of aerated sea water ranging in temperature up to 115.degree.C, which steel contains no molybdenum and consists essentially of: 0.01 to 0.15 percent in wieght of carbon; 2.0 to 4.5 percent in weight of chromium; 0.1 to 1.0 percent in weight of columbium; optionally copper, nickel and manganese in an amount of between 0.0 and maximally 2.5 percent in weight taken all together; optionally fine grain formers, such as aluminum, titanium and vanadium in an amount of between 0.0 and maximally 0.2 percent in weight taken all together and; balance iron and impurities due to melting, such as silicon, all of which alloying elements bein below the passivating limit.