The polarization resistance method utilized for determination of instantaneous corrosion rates of metals is reviewed. The fundamental assumptions in electrode kinetics that govern the technique are restated.
Error producing factors such as high excitation voltage amplitude, insufficiently slow scan rate or inadequate polarization hold period, high solution resistance, presence of competing reduction-oxidation reactions, and non-uniform current and potential distributions are discussed with the goal of defining conditions and circumstances where these complicating factors are important. Keywords: polarization resistance, solution resistance, instantaneous corrosion rate, linear polarization resistance, potentiodynamic method, impedance method, potential-step method, current-step method