Intensity-based optical fiber sensor for monitoring corrosion of aluminum alloys

A new method, based on the shift of light power transmitted through fiber, to measure corrosion of aluminum is presented. A multimode fiber was metallized by use of physical vacuum to deposit aluminum onto an unclad part of a fiber of 1 to 2 cm length. Scanning-electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction were used to show, the formation and corrosion of the metallized film. The light signal driven by metal corrosion was affected by the film's thickness and the concentration of the corrosive solution of sodium hydroxide.