In field electrochemical evaluation of carbon steel corrosion in a marine test environment

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to research electrochemical testing technology as applied to in field corrosion evaluation of metallic materials and to study the corrosion behaviors of the materials exposed in different marine regions.Design methodology approach - The electrode systems for in field electrochemical evaluation of metallic samples are designed and applied to monitor two types of carbon steel samples exposed both in the submerged zone and the tidal zone at a marine corrosion test station. Corrosion potential monitoring, potentiostatic square wave, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and electrochemical noise methods are used in the test.Findings - It is confirmed that the electrode systems could be used for electrochemical measurement of metallic samples during exposure in the submerged zone and the tidal zone of a marine corrosion test station for long-term test durations. The electrochemical measuring results reflect the changes and differences of the samples' corrosion behavior during exposure in different regions and they respond directly to the influence of marine environmental factors on the corrosion behaviors, especially the influence of temperature.Originality value - In this paper, lots of consecutive and dynamic corrosion information is obtained from field exposures. The findings provide a foundation upon which to investigate and forecast the corrosion behaviors of materials in marine environments.