An electrochemical study of phase-transitions in rust layers

Isolated rust layers have been investigated by electrochemical methods to find out whether their reduction and re-oxidation can affect the atmospheric corrosion of iron. At potentials below 0 mV, first a thin Fe²⁺-containing surface layer is formed on top of the γ-FeOOH. This reduced surface layer can dissolve into the cell electrolyte at acid pH, or at lower potentials the Fe²⁺-ions can react with γ-FeOOH to Fe₃O₄. The formation of magnetite could be followed by in-situ magnetic measurements. The reduced surface layer can easily be oxidized back to γ-FeOOH, magnetite can partly be oxidized to γ-Fe₂O₃.