Electrochemical studies of anodic dissolution of mild steel in a carbonate-bicarbonate buffer under erosion-corrosion conditions

Abstract

A Rotating Cylinder Electrode (RCE) system has been used to determine the corrosion kinetics of mild steel in the active dissolution potential range under erosion-corrosion conditions. The hydrodynamics of the rotating cylinder electrode were characterized by the mass transfer controlled oxygen reduction reaction on a copper electrode. The anodic dissolution current was measured at various potentials and velocities in de-aerated 0.5M NaHCO 3 + 0.5M Na 2CO 3 solution, with or without the addition of 300 g/l of 100 μm alumina. The results show that anodic dissolution processes in this system are under mass transfer control in turbulent flow conditions. The anodic dissolution rate increases significantly with the introduction of particles, owing to an increase of mass transfer coefficient and removal of corrosion deposits on the electrode surface.