Recent Applications of Electrode Potential Measurements in the Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Corrosion of Metals

Abstract

Abstract A brief survey is given of recent applications of electrode potential measurements for the study of the corrosion of metals and alloys in the presence of aqueous solutions, molten salts and gaseous atmospheres. Particularly considered are: (1) cathodic and anodic protection of passivable metals and alloys in the presence of chloride containing solutions; (2) pitting corrosion of copper in the presence of cold water; (3) stress corrosion cracking of titanium alloys in the presence of aqueous solutions; (4) diagrams of electrochemical equilibria in the presence of molten carbonates, as a function of the electrode potential and of log PCO2 or log O−−; (5) diagrams of chemical and electrochemical equilibria in the presence of gaseous oxygen as a function of ΔG° or the electrode potential E, and of temperature T; (6) diagrams of electrochemical equilibria of semi-conductive oxides, as a function of the electrode potential E, and of log O−−. Mention is made of the possible usefulness of these three last types of diagrams for studying problems related to corrosion, fuel cells, and high temperature electrochemistry.