Method and apparatus for measuring localized corrosion and other heterogeneous electrochemical processes
First Claim
1. A method for measuring localized corrosion and other heterogeneous electrochemical processes comprising the steps of:
- forming an integrated multi-sensor wire beam electrode system whose working surface simulates a conventional one piece metal electrode surface in electrochemical behavior;
exposing the working surface of the wire beam electrode to an electrolyte as a conventional one-piece electrode surface to allow localized corrosion or other heterogeneous electrochemical processes to occur;
measuring local electrochemical parameters from local areas of the wire beam electrode surface by means of wires located at these local areas using read-out means;
calculating local electrochemical kinetics of localized corrosion and other heterogeneous processes by means of kinetic equations derived based on the wire beam electrode concept.
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Abstract
An electrochemical method for measuring localized corrosion and other heterogeneous electrochemical processes is described. A multi-sensor electrode namely the wire beam electrode, integrated by coupling all its wire terminals together, is used to simulate a conventional one-piece metal electrode surface in electrochemical behavior. The working surface of the wire beam electrode is exposed to an electrolyte as a conventional one-piece electrode to allow heterogeneous electrochemical processes such as localized corrosion to occur. Electrochemical parameters at local areas of the wire beam electrode surface are detected by means of wires located at those areas. A zero resistance ammeter is inserted between each selected wire terminal and all other coupled wire terminals to measure the coupling current flowing into or out the selected wire, and thus a coupling current distribution map is produced. A high impedance voltmeter is used to measure the electrochemical potential of each temporarily uncoupled wire versus a reference electrode, and thus an electrochemical potential distribution map is produced. A polarization resistance measuring apparatus is used to measure the polarization resistance of each temporarily uncoupled wire, and thus a polarization resistance distribution map is produced. These electrochemical parameters and maps are used to determine the kinetics of heterogeneous electrochemical processes using equations described in this disclosure. This method and apparatus can be used to measure various forms of heterogeneous electrochemical processes such as localized corrosion, cathodic and anodic protection, electroplating, electro-machining, electrotyping and electrowinning.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method for measuring localized corrosion and other heterogeneous electrochemical processes comprising the steps of:
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forming an integrated multi-sensor wire beam electrode system whose working surface simulates a conventional one piece metal electrode surface in electrochemical behavior; exposing the working surface of the wire beam electrode to an electrolyte as a conventional one-piece electrode surface to allow localized corrosion or other heterogeneous electrochemical processes to occur; measuring local electrochemical parameters from local areas of the wire beam electrode surface by means of wires located at these local areas using read-out means; calculating local electrochemical kinetics of localized corrosion and other heterogeneous processes by means of kinetic equations derived based on the wire beam electrode concept. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for measuring localized corrosion and other heterogeneous electrochemical processes comprising:
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an integrated wire beam electrode system whose terminals are all coupled together to simulate a conventional one piece metal electrode surface in electrochemical behavior; a zero resistance ammeter which is inserted between each selected wire terminal of a wire beam electrode and all other coupled wire terminals to measure the coupling current flowing into or out the selected wire; a high impedance voltmeter which is used to measure the electrochemical potential of each temporarily uncoupled wire versus a reference electrode; a polarization resistance measuring apparatus which is used to measure the polarization resistance of each temporarily uncoupled wire.
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Specification