A novel high throughput electrochemistry corrosion test method – bipolar electrochemistry

Bipolar electrochemistry is a relatively novel screening method used to study the corrosion performance of metals under a wide range of applied potentials. Pitting corrosion that occurs in regions exposed to high anodic potentials on the bipolar electrode are researched. This involves investigating pit nucleation parameters, stability criteria and pit growth kinetics. Changes in the pit volume, quantity, growth factor, and shape caused by the different applied potentials are discussed. Bipolar electrochemistry has also been modified to test the evolution of corrosion under additional potential biases, and galvanic coupling between dissimilar metallic alloys. Bipolar electrochemistry has the potential to become a standardised corrosion test that can be used to determine and analyse different corrosion nucleation and growth parameters in metallic alloys.