A study of the galvanic corrosion of titanium/L 316 stainless steel in artificial seawater using electrochemical noise (EN) measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the galvanic corrosion of titanium/L 316 stainless steel, by electrochemical noise (EN), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and anode/cathode area ratio effect on the galvanic behavior of the couple.

Design/methodology/approach

The EN measurement was employed to examine effects of anode to cathode area ratio on the galvanic corrosion behavior between stainless steel L 316 and titanium in artificial seawater. Current noise and potential noise were monitored simultaneously using a three‐electrode configuration under open‐circuit condition. The noise resistance was evaluated as the ratio of the standard deviation of the potential to that of the current noise after removing the DC component. The time‐series noise patterns were transformed into frequency domain by fast Fourier transformation and then their power spectrum densities (PSDs) at specified frequency were determined and compared with the EIS and polarization results.

Findings

The EN, EIS and polarization results were in agreement. Galvanic corrosion density increase and galvanic potential moved slowly to negative direction with decrease in anode/cathode area ratio. The results showed that the slope of PSD of the current (i.e the “roll off”) was rising slowly where the anode/cathode area ratio was declined. The relationship between polarization resistance (Rp) and noise resistance (Rn) was investigated. Rt was determined by EIS for samples, and its value compared with Rp and Rn. The result indicates that galvanic corrosion has an inversely relation with anode/cathode area ratio that exposed to aggressive environment.

Originality/value

This paper presents the application of noise analysis to demonstrate galvanic corrosion and the effect of area ratio anode/cathode on current density and galvanic potential.

Citation

Moshrefi, R., Ghassem Mahjani, M., Ehsani, A. and Jafarian, M. (2011), "A study of the galvanic corrosion of titanium/L 316 stainless steel in artificial seawater using electrochemical noise (EN) measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 58 No. 5, pp. 250-257. https://doi.org/10.1108/00035591111167721