The role of electrolyte concentration on crevice corrosion of pure nickel

Abstract

AbstractIn this work an artificial crevice electrode was used in conjunction with a fine microprobe assembly to measure the potential inside the crevice. Using this setup crevice corrosion of commercially pure nickel was investigated in sulfuric acid with concentrations: 0.5, 1 and 2N. The outer surface of the Ni was held at a passive potential of 530 mV(SCE) while the experiment was running. The results showed a steep potential decay observed in all concentrations. For 0.5, 1 and 2N H2SO4, the total potential drop inside the crevice was: 681, 619 and 593 mV, respectively. This indicates the higher the acid concentration is the lower the potential drop will be. On the other hand, the measured current was highest (4.09 mA) for 2N and lowest (1 mA) for 0.5N. On the crevice wall a boundary was found to exist between the passive and the active regions. These findings point toward the IR voltage drop mechanism operating for this system.