Evaluation of corrosion in electrochemical systems using Michelson interferometry

This work presents the performance of a simple Michelson interferometric configuration, allowing monitoring and evaluation of corrosion and oxide layer growth in aluminium during aqueous corrosion processes in a distilled water solution, without any physical contact with the sample. This alternative experimental arrangement introduces a simpler alignment compared with a preliminary proposal [Habib K. In situ measurement of oxide film growth on aluminium samples by holographic interferometry. Corrosion Sci 2001; 43, 449–55], and the obtained interferograms offer a qualitative and possibly quantitative evaluation of an important physical parameter related to the corrosion process kinetics. Interferograms were obtained as a function of time to register changes related to the corrosion dynamics and oxide growth process. Experimental results correlate with the well-known corrosion process taking place over the aluminium sample under these experimental conditions.