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If no external forces act on the system the system tends to transfer to its
lowest energy state.
Corrosion is the
simultaneous
transfer of mass
and charge across
a metal/solution
interface.
The reason that two different electrochemical half-cell reactions can occur on the
same metal surface lies in the heterogeneous nature of a metal surface.
Polycrystalline metal surfaces contain an array of site energies due to the
existence of various crystal faces (i.e., grains) and grain boundaries.
In addition, there can be other defects such as edges, steps, kink sites, screw
dislocations, and point defects.
Moreover, there can be surface contaminants due to the presence of impurity
metal atoms or to the adsorption of ions from solution so as to change the surface
energy of the underlying metal atoms around the adsorbate.
Corrosion Control
For purely diffusion controlled mass transport, the flux of a species O to a surface
from the bulk is described with Ficks first law
Metals such as iron, nickel, chromium, and aluminum are all inherently reactive, as
evidenced by the fact that they occur in nature as their ores rather than in elemental
form.
These metals are used in industry because they react with water and/or oxygen to form
stable passive oxide films.
Transpassive region
Oxide films on metals are often (but not always) very thin and are not visible to the eye.
The transition metals (e.g., Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Mo) and their alloys (e.g., the FeCr stainless
steels) tend to have thin passive films, which are tens to hundreds of angstroms () in
thickness.
Theories of Passivity
There are three main theories of passivity. These are
(i) the adsorption theory
(ii) the oxide film theory and
(iii) the film sequence theory
The adsorption theory
A chemically adsorbed (chemisorbed) monolayer of oxygen (i.e., one molecular layer
in thickness) reduces the reactivity of surface metal atoms and thus provides
protection against further attack.
The adsorbed monomolecular film, of course, continues to grow in thickness.
oxide film theory
A thin three-dimensional oxide film separates the metal from its environment.
This oxide films acts as a barrier to the passage of the corrosive environment into the
film and the passage of metal cations from the substrate out through the film.
W is in gram.
1 normal
metals and
active-passive
metals in
active state
2 passive
state with
protective
layer
3
transpassive
state
For activation
polarization velocity
has no effect on
corrosion rate
For concentration
polarization velocity
will increase corrosion
rate
Some metals show
corrosion resistance
due to formation of
bulk films (Pb).
These films are
damaged due to high
velocity due to
mechanical damage.
Corrosion rate
increases
A exponential
rise in corrosion
B negligible
corrosion rate ,
sudden increase
at very high
temperatures
In some cases
corrosion rate
decreases with
temperature
due to expulsion
of dissolved
gases
1 passive
state
2
transpassive
state
Curve B
characteristic of
acids as
medium. With
increase in
conc. Initially
H+ conc.
increases.
At very high
conc. Ionization
is reduced
corrosion rate
decreases
Zinc in
contact
with
platinum
immersed
in HCl.
Pt is inert,
provides
more
surface
for H2
evolution.
Corrosion
rate
increases