Corrosion Engineering-Week 5 Second Class-Chem Eng.

TU

5. Measurement of Corrosion
5.1 Instrumental method
(a) Potentiodynamic method
(b) Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy method
5.1.1 Mixed-Potential Theory. The mixed potential-theory consists of two simple

hypothesis:

(1) any electrochemical reaction can be divided into two or more partial

oxidation and reduction reactions and

(2) there can be no net accumulation of electric charge during an

electrochemical reaction.

It can be experimentally demonstrated that electrochemical reactions are

composed of two or more partial oxidation or reduction reactions. The second hypothesis

is a restatement of the law of conservation of charge. It follows that during the corrosion

of an electrically isolated metal sample, the total rate of oxidation must equal the total of

reduction.

Corrosion involves the destructive attack of metal by chemical or electrochemical

reaction with its environment. Usually corrosion consists of a set of redox reactions that

are electrochemically in nature. The metal is oxidized to corrosion products at

anodic sites:

and hydrogen is reduced at the cathodic sites,

Corrosion Engineering-Week 5 Second Class-
Chem Eng. TU

Figure 5.1

The equilibrium potentials of the couples ine Equations (1) and (2) are labeled

Eeq,M and Eeq,H2, respectively. The corrosion potential is the potential at

which the rate of oxidation of M (defined by current io,M is equal to the rate

of reduction of H+ (defined by current iR,H). Stern has provided a firm

theoretical background for determination of corrosion rates for a

mixed electrode system consisting of two electrochemical reactions:

Corrosion Engineering-Week 5 Second Class-
Chem Eng. TU
Corrosion Engineering-Week 5 Second Class-
Chem Eng. TU
Corrosion Engineering-Week 5 Second Class-
Chem Eng. TU

5.1.2.Polarization of a metal in deaerated acid solution

To determine values of Ecorr and icorr, extrapolated linear sections from the

anodic and cathodic curves are used as shown in Figure 5.2.

Figure 5.2 Polarization behavior of a metal (M) in deaerated acid solution

Corrosion Engineering-Week 5 Second Class-
Chem Eng. TU

At the corrosion potential, Ecorr, rate of cathodic reduction is equal to rate of

anodic reaction (metal corrosion). Tafel constants (α and β ) are calculated

from the anodic and cathodic slopes.

Corrosion Engineering-Week 5 Second Class-
Chem Eng. TU

5.1.3 Calculation of Corrosion rate from the Corrosion Current.

According to Faraday’s Law:
Corrosion Engineering-Week 5 Second Class-
Chem Eng. TU

Icorr=corrosion current density (µΑcm2)

E.W=equivalent weight of the corroding species, (g).

d = density of the corroding species, (g/cm3).

Example 5.1: A steel coupon with an anode surface area of 1000 cm2 is placed
in an electrolyte. The corrosion current is measured to be 1 mA. What mass of
steel will be lost in 6 hours? What is the corrosion rate in μg/cm2/day? In mpy?
Assume valence of 2.
Corrosion Engineering-Week 5 Second Class-
Chem Eng. TU