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This study focused on the application of electrochemical noise to assess the protection level of corrosion products formed on copper during relatively short exposure time in different outdoor atmospheres. Electrochemical noise, cathodic reduction measurements and gravimetric (mass loss) analysis were applied to copper samples exposed at urban and rural/industrial areas in Cuba for 4 months. Measurements of Electrochemical current noise indicated that the poorest protective corrosion products were formed on samples exposed to atmospheres with high concentration of H 2 S which agreed with the corrosion rate determined by mass loss and electrochemical chronopotentiometry (cathodic reduction). The electrochemical noise methodology proposed in this work showed acceptable and reproducible results by using an electrochemical cell in which the electrolyte was formed by a distilledwater wetted cloth in contact with the compounds present on a corroded metallic surface. This methodology indicated that the corrosion protection level of the corrosion products formed on copper is related to the corrosivity of the atmosphere.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to quantitatively assess the pit growth rate on AISI 304L and AISI 316 austenitic stainless steels in natural seawater and 3.5 wt.% NaCl solutions through electrochemical measurements during the potentiostatic growth of pits. Design/methodology/approach -A quantitative characterisation was carried out based on chronoamperometric measurements. The volume of dissolved metal per pit was calculated from the charge registered and Faraday's law, considering both, hemispherical and semi-elliptical pit shapes and the density of the steels. Empirical growth laws for maximum pit depth as a function of polarisation time were obtained and compared with pits volumetric profile obtained from optical microscopy analysis and mechanical removal of material on both steels. Findings -Electrochemical-based calculations of localised metal dissolution per pit present acceptable fit with the real volume of dissolved metal on hemispherical pits. Originality/value -The paper presents the quantitative relationship of the corrosion pit growth rate of stainless steels in chloride containing solution determined by chronoamperometry (electrochemical technique) through the Faraday law's, with the mechanical removal of material (pit profile) through the density of metal.

Purpose -The aim of this paper is to study and analyse the advantages and limitations of the scanning reference electrode technique (SRET) to detect and assess localised electrochemical activity based on an evaluation of the influence of the principal test parameters on the sensitivity and resolution of the technique. Design/methodology/approach -Measurements of Ohmic potential gradients induced by ionic flux close to a point current source (PCS) were carried out using a scanning reference electrode technique (SRET) instrument, which comprised a vertical rotating working electrode and a scanning probe formed by a pair of platinum electrodes of approximately 200 mm of diameter. Ionic flux was induced by anodic polarisation applied to a gold micro-disc electrode, which acted as the PCS. Measurements were conducted in electrolytes of ten different conductivities, using different scanning probe tips to sample surface distance and different working electrode rotation rates. The range of conductivities used included most of the possible electrolytes to which metallic materials can be in contact under real service conditions. Findings -The SRET signal sensed from a polarised PCS showed a strong dependence on the rotation rate of the working electrode for electrolytes of low conductivity but a minimal effect on electrolytes with conductivities higher than 50 mS/cm. Originality/value -This work presents the effect of wide variations on the electrochemical and operational conditions on the sensitivity and resolution of SRET signal response and discusses the limitations of the technique to assess localised electrochemical activity due to the effect of high conductivity electrolytes, large separation distance between the SRET scanning probe and developing dissolution and scanning rate of a the localised site.