Khlopetska Viktoriia, P893B0, Group B

Laboratory Report

Electrochemical Corrosion of Metals

1. Determination of corrosion potentials

Measure the electrode potentials of various metals and metal alloys compared to calomel
electrode in the 2% NaCl solution.

- Place the metal to be measured in the 2% NaCl solution and the calomel reference electrode.
- Measure the electrode potential between them by a multimeter one minute after the loop
linking.
- Read the measured value with correct sign and note with proper unit (0.01 Volt).
- Remove the metal from the electrolyte, wash and wipe it dry.
- Repeat the measurement with a new metal.

Metals included: Zn bar, Zn, Cu bar, Cu, Fe, Pb, Graphite, Al

Test results

Metal Electric potential (V)

Zn bar -0.91
Zn -0.95
Cu bar -0.12
Cu -0.15
Fe -0.42
Pb -0.495
Graphite +0.117
Al -0.726

2. Determination of corrosion rate

- Select two metal – Zn and Al, immerse both into the 2% NaCl solution.
- Measure the electric current accompanying the corrosion process between the two metals by
the multimeter properly connected. After approximately two minutes, record the measured
current in proper unit.
- Identify using the potentials obtained during the previous measurement data, that which
metal will be expected to suffer corrosion – in our case Zn.

- Measure the current

I = 0,7 mA = 0,0007 A
- Measure the metal surface, which is expected to suffer from corrosion.
A = 2*2*4,5 = 14 cm2 = 0,0014 m2

- Calculate the corrosion rate [g/m2year] and [mm/year] in units.

The amount of metal went into solution can be determined by the Faraday law:

atomic mass of dissolving metal

m = k * I * t where k = --------------------------------
(z*F)
where m : mass of metal went into solution [g]
k : metal dependent Faraday constans [g/Ah]
I : corrosion current [A]
z : charge of the metallic ion went into solution
F : Faraday constant 26,8 [Ah]
t : duration of the corrosion process [hour]

k = M / z*F = 65,37 / 2*26,8 = 1,2196

m = 1,2196*0,0007*1 = 0.00085 g/hour (*8766) = 7,48 g/year

Vcorr = 7,48/0,0014 = 5342 g/(m2year)

Vlinear corr = 5342/7140000 = 0,00075 m/year = 7,5 mm/year