Effects of Fe3+ on Corrosion of Iron in Acidic Solutions

Abstract

Polarization curves of a platinum rotating disk electrode in acidic solutions containing Fe2+ and Fe3+ showed typical shapes of the diffusion-controlled process in both anodic and catholic directions. The process is governed by the diffusion of Fe3+ when the catholic reduction of Fe3+ couples the anodic dissolution of Fe because the anodic process is relatively fast under the given condition of the experiment. The corrosion test on iron rotating disks was carried out under various conditions. Some discussions on aqueous corrosion of iron in acidic solution containing Fe3+ as well as dissolved oxygen have been made.