A theoretical approach for predicting AC-induced corrosion

Abstract

A model that considers both anodic dissolution and cathodic reduction for corrosion of materials under superimposed sinusoidal voltages has been proposed and developed. A closed form solution permits the estimation of the corrosion current and corrosion potential. The corrosion current is found to increase with the peak voltage of the applied signal. For a constant value of the anodic Tafel slope, a decrease in the cathodic Tafel slope results in higher corrosion current. The corrosion potential is found to be a function of the absolute ratio of the anodic Tafel slope to the cathodic Tafel slope ( r). For r less than and greater than unity, an increase in the peak voltage results in more active and more noble corrosion potential, respectively, than its DC corrosion potential. Assumptions inherent and the limitations of the model are also discussed in the paper.