Electrode corrosion resistance

Corrosion protection of metals can take many fonns, one of which is passivation. As mentioned above, passivation is the fonnation of a thin protective film (most commonly oxide or hydrated oxide) on a metallic surface. Certain metals that are prone to passivation will fonn a thin oxide film that displaces the electrode potential of the metal by +0.5-2.0 V. The film severely hinders the difflision rate of metal ions from the electrode to tire solid-gas or solid-liquid interface, thus providing corrosion resistance. This decreased corrosion rate is best illustrated by anodic polarization curves, which are constructed by measuring the net current from an electrode into solution (the corrosion current) under an applied voltage. For passivable metals, the current will increase steadily with increasing voltage in the so-called active region until the passivating film fonns, at which point the current will rapidly decrease. This behaviour is characteristic of metals that are susceptible to passivation. 

It is used in certain nickel-based alloys, such as the "Hastelloys(R)" which are heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant to chemical solutions. Molybdenum oxidizes at elevated temperatures. The metal has found recent application as electrodes for electrically heated glass furnaces and foreheaths. The metal is also used in nuclear energy applications and for missile and aircraft parts. Molybdenum is valuable as a catalyst in the refining of petroleum. It has found applications as a filament material in electronic and electrical applications. Molybdenum is an... 

Ion implantation has also been used for the creation of novel catalyticaHy active materials. Ruthenium oxide is used as an electrode for chlorine production because of its superior corrosion resistance. Platinum was implanted in mthenium oxide and the performance of the catalyst tested with respect to the oxidation of formic acid and methanol (fuel ceU reactions) (131). The implantation of platinum produced of which a catalyticaHy active electrode, the performance of which is superior to both pure and smooth platinum. It also has good long-term stabiHty. The most interesting finding, however, is the complete inactivity of the electrode for the methanol oxidation. 

The titanium oxide film consists of mtile or anatase (31) and is typically 250-A thick. It is insoluble, repairable, and nonporous in many chemical media and provides excellent corrosion resistance. The oxide is fully stable in aqueous environments over a range of pH, from highly oxidizing to mildly reducing. However, when this oxide film is broken, the corrosion rate is very rapid. Usually the presence of a small amount of water is sufficient to repair the damaged oxide film. In a seawater solution, this film is maintained in the passive region from ca 0.2 to 10 V versus the saturated calomel electrode (32,33). 

The resistivity of the soil in any particular location will be a function of moisture content, soil temperature and presence of dissolved salts. At a site where climatic conditions vary considerably throughout the year, earth electrodes should be buried at a depth where such changes will not affect the resistivity. Grounding rods are generally made of copper bonded onto a steel core. The copper provides a good connection to earth and offers a high corrosion resistance, while the steel core gives the mechanical... 

Levin, I. A. and Volikova, 1. G., The Accelerated Method for Testing the Stability of a Singlephase Corrosion Resistant Steel to Intercrystalline Corrosion , ZavodskLab., 30, 816 (1964) Hua, P.-T., Shen, H.-S., Chou, C. C. and Chung, T. T., Relation Between Intercrystalline Corrosion and Electrode Potential of Austenitic Stainless Steel , K O Hsueh Tung Pao, 2, 56 (1964) C.A., 60, 15516h... 

To ensure maximum continuity of the tin-iron compound layer between tin and steel. This layer is itself corrosion resistant and appears to act as a nearly inert screen limiting the area of steel exposed as tin is removed by corrosion. Its effectiveness is measured by the Alloy-Tin Couple (A.T.C.) test, in which the current flowing is measured between a sample of tinplate from which the unalloyed tin layer has been removed, and a relatively large tin electrode immersed in an anaerobic fruit juice. ... 

Electrodeposition This method of paint application is basically a dipping process. The paint is water-based and is either an emulsion or a stabilised dispersion. The solids of the paint are usually very low and the viscosity lower than that used in conventional dipping. The workpiece is made one electrode, usually the cathode, in a d.c. circuit and the anode can be either the tank itself or suitably sized electrodes sited to give optimum coating conditions. The current is applied for a few minutes and after withdrawal and draining the article is rinsed with de-ionised water to remove the thin layer of dipped paint. The deposited film is firmly adherent and contains a minimum of water and can be stoved without any flash-off period. This process is used for metal fabrications, notably car bodies. Complete coverage of inaccessible areas can be achieved and the corrosion resistance of the coating is excellent (Fig. 14.1). 

Danielson, M. J., Analysis of Errors in Using The Two Electrode and Three Electrode Polarisation Resistance Methods In Measuring Corrosion Rates , Corrosion, 36, No. 4, 174-178, April (1980)... 

Electrode corrosion is the critical problem associated with the use of metal hydride anodes in batteries. The extent of corrosion is essentially determined by two factors alloy expansion and contraction in the charge-discharge cycle, and chemical surface passivation by the formation of corrosion—resistant oxides or hydroxides. 

There are few systematic guidelines which can be used to predict the properties of AB2 metal hydride electrodes. Alloy formulation is primarily an empirical process where the composition is designed to provide a bulk hydride-forming phase (or phases) which form, in situ, a corrosion— resistance surface of semipassivating oxide (hydroxide) layers. Lattice expansion is usually reduced relative to the ABS hydrides because of a lower VH. Pressure-composition isotherms of complex AB2 electrode materials indicate nonideal behaviour. 

Aluminum s low density, wide availability, and corrosion resistance make it ideal for construction and for the aerospace industry. Aluminum is a soft metal, and so it is usually alloyed with copper and silicon for greater strength. Its lightness and good electrical conductivity have also led to its use for overhead power lines, and its negative electrode potential has led to its use in fuel cells. Perhaps one day your automobile will not only be made of aluminum but fueled by it, too. 

Microelectronic circuits for communications. Controlled permeability films for drug delivery systems. Protein-specific sensors for the monitoring of biochemical processes. Catalysts for the production of fuels and chemicals. Optical coatings for window glass. Electrodes for batteries and fuel cells. Corrosion-resistant coatings for the protection of metals and ceramics. Surface active agents, or surfactants, for use in tertiary oil recovery and the production of polymers, paper, textiles, agricultural chemicals, and cement. 

Most of the studies have involved the alloying of a second metal to platinum. The second metal was generally chosen because of its ability to increase the concentration of oxygenated species on the electrode surface, but also for its corrosion resistance. Even if some discrepancies exist in the literature, R-Ru is now widely accepted as the most interesting one, and hence our analysis will focus on this alloy in the next subsection. Other alloys such as R-lr, R-Os, or R-Re have also been reported to be good candidates, and R-Mo under specific conditions of preparation was claimed to have the desired properties. The Pt-Sn alloy is still a subject... 

Equilibrium electrode potentials are readily established when metal electrodes are in contact with melts. However, two difficnlties arise in attempts to measnre them suitable, sufficiently corrosion-resistant reference electrodes must be selected, and marked diffusion potentials develop at interfaces between different melts. 

Selection of Corrosion-Resistant Materials The concentrated sofutions of acids, alkalies, or salts, salt melts, and the like used as electrolytes in reactors as a rule are highly corrosive, particularly so at elevated temperatures. Hence, the design materials, both metallic and nonmetallic, should have a sufficiently high corrosion and chemical resistance. Low-alloy steels are a universal structural material for reactors with alkaline solutions, whereas for reactors with acidic solutions, high-alloy steels and other expensive materials must be used. Polymers, including highly stable fluoropolymers such as PTFE, become more and more common as structural materials for reactors. Corrosion problems are of particular importance, of course, when materials for nonconsumable electrodes (and especially anodes) are selected, which must be sufficiently stable and at the same time catalytically active. 

The corrosion resistance of lithium electrodes in contact with aprotic organic solvents is due to a particular protective film forming on the electrode surface when it first comes in contact witfi tfie solvent, preventing further interaction of the metal with the solvent. This film thus leads to a certain passivation of lithium, which, however, has the special feature of being efiective only while no current passes through the external circuit. The passive film does not prevent any of the current flow associated with the basic current-generating electrode reaction. The film contains insoluble lithium compounds (oxide, chloride) and products of solvent degradation. Its detailed chemical composition and physicochemical properties depend on the composition of the electrolyte solution and on the various impurity levels in this solution. 

An important condition for potentiometry is high selectivity the electrode s potential shonld respond only to the snbstance being examined, not to other components in the solntion. This condition greatly restricts the possibilities of the version of potentiometry described here when metal electrodes are nsed as the indicator electrodes. The solntion shonld be free of ions of more electropositive metals and of the components of other redox systems (in particnlar, dissolved air). Only corrosion-resistant materials can be nsed as electrodes. It is not possible at all with this method to determine alkali or alkaline-earth metal ions in aqneons solntions. 

The band edges are flattened when the anode is illuminated, the Fermi level rises, and the electrode potential shifts in the negative direction. As a result, a potential difference which amounts to about 0.6 to 0.8 V develops between the semiconductor and metal electrode. When the external circuit is closed over some load R, the electrons produced by illumination in the conduction band of the semiconductor electrode will flow through the external circuit to the metal electrode, where they are consumed in the cathodic reaction. Holes from the valence band of the semiconductor electrode at the same time are directly absorbed by the anodic reaction. Therefore, a steady electrical current arises in the system, and the energy of this current can be utilized in the external circuit. In such devices, the solar-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency is as high as 5 to 10%. Unfortunately, their operating life is restricted by the low corrosion resistance of semiconductor electrodes. 

Rare, shiny, and lightest metal of the platinum group. Hardens platinum and palladium. The presence of 0.1 % of ruthenium in titanium improves its resistance to corrosion 100-fold. The spectacular catalytic properties of ruthenium are used on industrial scales (hydrogenations, sometimes enan-tioselective, and metathesis). Titanium electrodes coated with ruthenium oxide are applied in chlorine-alkaline electrolysis. Suitable for corrosion-resistant contacts and surgical instruments. 

It was recently reported that the application of a protective polarization may be avoided by using corrosion-resistant activated electrodes [32], The polarization protection of the electrodes represents approximately 1-2% of the nominal electrolyzer power. Assuming the capacity factor of the electrolyzer cannot exceed the one of the wind turbine, the polarization protection should be applied during 60% of the electrolyzer s lifetime or higher depending on the relative sizes of the electrolyzer and wind turbine. 

Nuclear thermochemical and high temperature electrolysis High temperature corrosion-resistant materials Advanced catalysts and membrane materials Durable electrode and seal materials for high temperature electrolysis... 

Graphite is offered moreover in flexible sheets (e.g. Sigraflex of the SGL-Carbon Group). This is primarily a sealing material, but it is suitable also as electrode or corrosion resistant current feeder (erosion in case of gas evolution is possible). 

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