It is known that, in addition to corrosion processes, the generation of electrochemical noise (EN) can be caused by other disturbances such as mass transfer and flow turbulence. In this work the effect of laminar and turbulent flow on the generation of electrochemical noise has been studied using a carbon steel rotating cylinder electrode (RCE) in aerated sodium chloride solution and in inhibited solution. EN experiments have been performed in free corrosion conditions (i.e. no applied current), and with applied cathodic polarisation in the regions of hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction.

It has been found that laminar flow had a negligible effect on the noise produced, but a significant increase in the amplitude of the noise was observed in turbulent flow, particularly when the electrode was cathodically polarized. Spectral analysis showed that the noise produced by turbulent flow had power at significantly higher frequencies than is normal for corrosion-related noise.

Subject
Corrosion rate, Hydrogen evolution, Electrochemical noise, Turbulent flow, Cathodic current, Free corrosion potential, Sodium chloride solution, Anodic reactions, Steel, Oxygen, Risk reduction, Electrodes, Electrode potential
Keywords:
electrochemical noise, flow, steel, sodium chloride solution
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2010
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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