Evaluation of cyclic voltammetry for accelerated corrosion life tests of the PbO 2 electrode

Abstract

Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical measurements at constant potential, and metallography were used to follow the anodic activity of chill-cast and wrought pure Pb and ternary PbCaSn alloys as well as cast and wrought PbSb. Cyclic voltammetry showed the formation of irreversible PbO 2 during a 1000 cycle test and also brought to light a diffusion or barrier-limited process during the cathodic discharge of calcium-containing alloys. Constant potential measurements could be correlated with corrosion behavior. The relative anodic activity was ranked for all samples tested. In general, chill-cast material showed less anodic activity than wrought materials, and ternary alloys less than pure lead, although in some cases the difference was very small.