Effect of confined electrolyte volumes on galvanic corrosion kinetics in statically loaded materials

Abstract

Abstract This work investigates the effects that the confined volume of atmospheric electrolytes has on the galvanic corrosion kinetics of a martensitic stainless steel alloy, UNS S13800, coupled with UNS A97075 in simulated atmospheric environments at relative humidity values that span the range of operational exposures. Restricted volumes found in thin films and droplets have been shown to control reduction reaction kinetics and are an ongoing challenge to characterize and standardize. This, along with the dynamic and high concentration of aggressive ions found in confined electrolytes, creates a unique corrosion system that requires a multifaceted approach to evaluate varied conditions, compare them with traditional measurements, and more accurately predict galvanic atmospheric corrosion. In this work, corrosion currents in galvanic couples were obtained under two environmental conditions: (1) bulk electrolytes, in a standardized test configuration, with chemistries relevant to atmospheric electrolytes; and (2) deliquesced droplets formed and equilibrated at a given temperature and relative humidity value. The corrosion currents for the same galvanic couple specimens were evaluated, using an atmospheric corrosion model, under a thin film electrolyte while statically loaded and unloaded, at two nominally different locations, e.g. Alexandria, VA, and Miami, FL, on the same date, using recorded weather conditions. The modeled corrosion currents were then compared with the currents obtained from the experimental conditions.