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Segmented Multi Electrode Sensor for Investigation of Environment-Assisted Cracking Under Dynamic Atmospheric Conditions

Thin film electrolyte electrochemical tests have been conducted using a segmented, multi electrode sensor with an artificial crevice to quantify the interaction of crack tip and crack mouth during cyclic atmospheric corrosion tests.

Product Number: 51317--8946-SG
ISBN: 8946 2017 CP
Author: Patrick Kramer
Publication Date: 2017
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Environment-assisted cracking (EAC) of aluminum alloys in corrosive atmospheres is a significant maintenance and safety issue for aerospace and naval structures. EAC is influenced by the interaction of stress environment and alloy microstructure. Atmospheric environmental conditions and corrosion kinetics are dynamic due to diurnal cycles and changing operating conditions where temperature relative humidity and surface contaminants interact to control thin film electrolyte properties. In the case of EAC and other localized corrosion processes such as crevice corrosion separation of the anode and cathode may occur due to variation of chemical composition oxygen availability and pH differences between the crack tip mouth and boldly exposed surfaces. Conventional electrochemical immersion testing is not well suited to study factors and interactions leading to EAC in corrosive atmospheres. The bulk electrolyte conditions for electrochemical immersion testing are vastly different than the thin film properties that are operative in atmospheric corrosion. For instance the dynamic temporal and spatial variations and effects of cyclic relative humidity on the salt concentration film thickness and oxygen diffusion cannot be captured. Additionally standard three electrode immersion test cell measurements are not well suited to directly investigate the variation and distribution of cathodic and anodic currents that develop over a sample surface during EAC or crevice corrosion under atmospheric conditions. Thin film electrolyte electrochemical tests have been conducted using a segmented multi electrode sensor with an artificial crevice to quantify the interaction of crack tip and crack mouth during cyclic atmospheric corrosion tests. These tests are compared to EAC measurements under similar conditions to inform a better understanding of the processes that are significant to EAC of aluminum alloys.

Key words: Segmented multi electrode, aluminum, atmospheric corrosion, environment-assisted crackings

Environment-assisted cracking (EAC) of aluminum alloys in corrosive atmospheres is a significant maintenance and safety issue for aerospace and naval structures. EAC is influenced by the interaction of stress environment and alloy microstructure. Atmospheric environmental conditions and corrosion kinetics are dynamic due to diurnal cycles and changing operating conditions where temperature relative humidity and surface contaminants interact to control thin film electrolyte properties. In the case of EAC and other localized corrosion processes such as crevice corrosion separation of the anode and cathode may occur due to variation of chemical composition oxygen availability and pH differences between the crack tip mouth and boldly exposed surfaces. Conventional electrochemical immersion testing is not well suited to study factors and interactions leading to EAC in corrosive atmospheres. The bulk electrolyte conditions for electrochemical immersion testing are vastly different than the thin film properties that are operative in atmospheric corrosion. For instance the dynamic temporal and spatial variations and effects of cyclic relative humidity on the salt concentration film thickness and oxygen diffusion cannot be captured. Additionally standard three electrode immersion test cell measurements are not well suited to directly investigate the variation and distribution of cathodic and anodic currents that develop over a sample surface during EAC or crevice corrosion under atmospheric conditions. Thin film electrolyte electrochemical tests have been conducted using a segmented multi electrode sensor with an artificial crevice to quantify the interaction of crack tip and crack mouth during cyclic atmospheric corrosion tests. These tests are compared to EAC measurements under similar conditions to inform a better understanding of the processes that are significant to EAC of aluminum alloys.

Key words: Segmented multi electrode, aluminum, atmospheric corrosion, environment-assisted crackings

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