Technical Sheet

Corrosion - Electrochemical methods

Corrosion tests - why? Compared to traditional exposure tests, electrochemical methods

Corrosion refers to the deterioration of a material in the wrong
place at the wrong time. With the help of corrosion tests you can:
• Predict the performance of materials in environments
• Compare materials in their field of application
• Understand the effects of changes in process and environment
conditions
Global Services – Technology offers several test possibilities,
which we have divided into three groups:
• Exposure tests (see specific technical sheet)
• Immersion- and steam phase test (see specific technical sheet)
• Electrochemical methods
provide the following possibilities:
• An answer within a short period of time (typically a few hours)
• A measurement that is close to the actual conditions
• Information in connection with variation in the environment
and other actual operational parameters.
Comparative tests of corrosivity
Electrochemical methods are very useful for comparative tests.
Therefore, such a method can act as a screening test for choosing
the most suitable material, or provide an idea of the influence
treatments such as welding, heat treatment and pickling have on
the corrosion rate of the products.

Electrochemical nature of corrosion reactions

Corrosion reactions involve the movement of electrons between
the metal and its surrounding environment. Since the corrosion
reactions rely on electron movement, the rates of reactions are
equivalent to electric currents. Due to this electrochemical
nature, these reactions are very appropriate for study using
electrochemical methods.

OH- Water droplet

Fe2+

O2 H2O

Iron electrons

Electrochemical cell action

continues the corrosion process
Electrochemical measurements
Electrochemical measurements are typically carried out in
electrochemical, or polarisation, cells, such as the one shown
below. These cells consist of an electrolyte solution (solution of
interest), a working electrode (the sample), a reference and a
counter electrode (to facilitate conduction of current), and a
potentiostat, which controls the process.
Potentiostat
Apply potential Measure Current
The results from these analyses are typically obtained as polarisa-
tion curves (above) . An analysis of these curves provides informa-
tion on the corrosion current and the corrosion potential, from
which the corrosion rate can be calculated, amongst other
information
Corrosive potential of an environment
Understanding the effect of the air on products is important when
planning new installations or new products. An easy and cheap
way of determining this is with the use of corrosion coupons that
are exposed on the installation site for 1 month. They are then
analysed in the lab using an electrochemical technique which
slowly penetrates the corrosion products on the coupon (shown
below). This provided information on the identity and quantity of
the corrosive contaminants present at the site.

Counter Based on this determination an indication of the lifetime of

Reference Electrode equipment installed at the site can be obtained and the protec-
Electrode tive level required specified. Such analysis can also provide data
on pollutants of interest for further investigation in exposure tests
Electrolyte Solution (see related technical sheet).
Working (Test Medium)
Electrode Polarisation Cell
(Sample)

Danfoss A/S
L7-S28
Phone: +45 7488 2555
Fax: +45 7488 2670 Global Services - Technology
DK-6430 Nordborg E-mail: technology@danfoss.com www.danfoss.com