A minimalist approach to polarization resistance measurements in a reinforced concrete structure

In the curriculum of future civil engineers, electrochemical concepts are often neglected, even though this knowledge is essential to adequately maintain reinforced concrete structures in a chloride-exposed environment. Experiments are necessary to consolidate key theoretical concepts, but laboratory experience often involves complex and expensive electronic equipment that may obscure the basic procedures at work. This paper presents a simple minimalistic electrochemical test for polarization resistance measurements by which students can learn basic concepts of corrosion electrochemistry and estimate the corrosion rate as a key parameter for estimation of the remaining service life of concrete structures. The focus is on avoiding unnecessary complications and providing an experiment that can be readily implemented for a wider student reach.     

微观组织对2A14铝合金轮毂力学性能和腐蚀性能的影响

通过电子背散射衍射(EBSD)、场发射扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、室温拉伸、浸泡腐蚀、电化学极化等测试分析方法，研究了2A14铝合金轮毂内部不同区域上微观组织的差异及其对力学性能和腐蚀性能的影响。结果表明，2A14铝合金轮毂的芯部和1/4层的晶粒尺寸分别是113和54 μm，再结晶分数分别是16%和36%。1/4层的合金相和时效析出相的含量都大于芯部，其中两种时效析出相(θ’和Q相)的数量密度均为芯部的2倍左右。芯部具有较大的晶粒尺寸和较少的时效析出相，因此具有较低的力学性能。同时，芯部相对于1/4层具有较少的合金相和较大的晶界相间距，因而芯部的电化学腐蚀和晶间腐蚀倾向均低于1/4层。     

Corrosion behaviour of Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Ag alloy components with different sizes after cooling

The corrosion behaviour of Mg-6Gd-3Y-1Zn-0.3Ag (wt.%) alloy components with different sizes after cooling was investigated. The alloys in the small components (SC) cooled fast, which were composed of α-Mg matrix and coarse long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) phases. The alloys in the large components (LC) cooled slowly, and there were thin lamellar LPSO phases precipitating inside the grains, except for α-Mg matrix and coarse LPSO phases. The hydrogen evolution test revealed that the corrosion rate of LC sample was higher than that of SC sample. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test showed that the surface film on LC alloys provided worse protection. The corrosion morphologies indicated that the precipitation of the thin lamellar LPSO phases in LC sample caused severe micro-galvanic corrosion, which accelerated the rupture of the surface film.     

Localized corrosion of (lean) duplex stainless steels in immersion units of urban wastewater treatment plants

With lower alloying cost and higher mechanical properties, lean duplex stainless steels can be an alternative to the more commonly used austenitic stainless steels. However, these alloys are still not the preferred choice, probably due to a lack of field experience. A study was thus initiated in view of defining the limits of use of selected (lean) duplexes for urban wastewater treatment units. The present paper shows the localized corrosion performance of selected lean duplexes in chloride contaminated solutions. The results are compared with austenitic S30403 and S31603 and with the more standard duplexes S82441 and S32205. The effect of welding was also investigated. Exposures in field municipal wastewater plants were conducted for 1 year in low and high chloride content units. The results show that lean duplexes S32101 and S32202 can be used as alternatives to S30403 and S31603 in low chloride electrolytes. At 500 ppm of chloride content, duplex stainless steel S32304 showed better corrosion resistance than S30403 and S31603. For higher chloride contents (1000 ppm and above) the standard duplexes S82441 and S32205 shall be preferred.     

Absorption effect of pure nickel on the corrosion behaviors of the GH3535 alloy in tellurium vapor

In this study,pure Ni was demonstrated to pro-tect the GH3535 alloy from Te vapor corrosion because of its strong absorption capacity.Severe Te corrosion of a single GH3535 alloy sample occurred in Te vapor at 700℃,which manifested as complex surface corrosion products and deep intergranular cracks.However,when pure Ni and the GH3535 alloy were put together in the vessel,the GH3535 alloy was completely protected from Te corrosion at the expense of the pure Ni.Thermody-namic calculations proved that the preferential reaction between pure Ni and Te vapor reduced the activity of Te vapor considerably,preventing the corrosion of the GH3535 alloy.Our study reveals one potential approach for protecting the alloys used in molten-salt reactors from Te corrosion.     

Electron transfer mediator PCN secreted by aerobic marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa accelerates microbiologically influenced corrosion of TC4 titanium alloy

Titanium alloys possess excellent corrosion resistance in marine environments,thus the possibility of their corrosion caused by marine microorganisms is neglected.In this work,microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of TC4 titanium alloy caused by marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated through electrochemical and surface characterizations during a 14-day immersion test.Results revealed that the unstable surface caused by P.aeruginosa resulted in exposure of Ti2O3 and severe pitting corrosion with maximum pit depth of 5.7 μm after 14 days of incubation.Phenazine-1-carboxy[ate (PCN),secreted by P.aeruginosa,promoted extracellular electron transfer (EET) and accelerated corrosion.Deletion of the phzH gene,which codes for the enzyme that catalyzes PCN production,from the P.aeruginosa genome,resulted in significantly decreased rates of corrosion.These results demonstrate that TC4 titanium alloy is not immune to marine MIC,and EET contributes to the corrosion of TC4 titanium alloy caused by P.aeruginosa.     

Using a pulsed electric current to reduce the susceptibility of high-strength steel to the stress corrosion cracking caused by hydrogen

Under the tensile loading, the damage of metals in the corrosive medium is the most destructive and harmful. In this study, the stress corrosion cracking behavior of H-charged high-strength steel in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution after electropulsing treatment was investigated. The experimental results from elongation, yield strength, fracture morphology, and polarization curves all demonstrate the positive effect of the pulsed processing, as it reduced the susceptibility of steel to stress corrosion cracking by removing hydrogen by electropulsing. The reduction in hydrogen content of the pulsed high–strength steels was attributed to electromigration and increased system free energy, which drove the hydrogen atoms in the steel to de–trap and reduced the susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking.     

新型活化环氧富锌涂层的耐腐蚀性研究

富锌涂料在防腐蚀领域具有广泛应用，然而其长效防护性能却受到锌粉活性影响。本文以冷涂锌涂层、传统环氧富锌涂层作为对照，研究了新型具有电化学活性的环氧富锌涂层在盐雾加速腐蚀试验后的耐腐蚀性。宏观形貌分析表明：盐雾加速腐蚀 1 800 h后，活化环氧富锌涂层表面并未出现锈点；采用扫描电子显微镜、维体式显微镜观察试验后涂层的表面形貌和涂层结构，发现活化环氧富锌涂层微观表面更加平滑，锌粉并未出现大面积的氧化，涂层内部大小锌粉颗粒均匀排列；通过电化学方法研究涂层的耐蚀机理与防护性，发现活化富锌涂层具有更持久的低防护电位。以上研究结果表明，较冷涂锌及传统环氧富锌涂层而言，新型活化环氧富锌涂层具有优异的长期防护性能，是值得关注和研究的一种新型技术。     

Corrosion behaviors of Cr2AlC/α-Al2O3 composites in 3.5 wt. % NaCl aqueous solution

Cr₂AlC and its composites containing α-Al₂O₃ (6.1 and 15.2 wt %) were prepared by hot pressing and their corrosion behaviors in air-saturated 3.5 wt % NaCl aqueous solution were investigated by electrochemical testing methods. It was revealed that the secondary phase of Al₂O₃ particles mainly distributed along grain boundaries of Cr₂AlC matrix. The potentiodynamic polarization measurements showed that the corrosion current densities of these Cr₂AlC composites were lower than that of the pure Cr₂AlC. The Aluminum in Cr₂AlC was prone to be attacked more easily. When immersed at open circuit potential (OCP), Al readily slipped out from Cr₂AlC matrix into NaCl solution in the form of dissoluble species. But in the case of polarization, regardless of potentiostatic polarization or potentiodynamic polarization, more de-intercalated Al, reacted with the electrolyte to form corrosion products of Al₂O₃ and/or AlOOH and deposited on the sample surface. For Cr₂AlC/α-Al₂O₃ composites, the presence of Al₂O₃ weakened the corrosion along grain boundaries by partly blocking the permeation of electrolyte and inhibiting the anodic dissolution process.