Partial currents

The current I is called the total current. In free corrosion, i.e., without the contribution of external currents (see Fig. 2-1), it is always zero, as given by Eq. (2-8). and are known as the anodic and cathodic partial currents. According to Eq. (2-10), generally in electrolytic corrosion anodic total currents and/or cathodic redox reactions are responsible. 

In general, according to Eq. (2-10), two electrochemical reactions take place in electrolytic corrosion. In the experimental arrangement in Fig. 2-3, it is therefore not the I(U) curve for one reaction that is being determined, but the total current-potential curve of the mixed electrode, E,. Thus, according to Eq. (2-10), the total potential curve involves the superposition of both partial current-potential curves ... 

Equation (2-38) is valid for every region of the surface. In this case only weight loss corrosion is possible and not localized corrosion. Figure 2-5 shows total and partial current densities of a mixed electrode. In free corrosion 7 = 0. The free corrosion potential lies between the equilibrium potentials of the partial reactions and U Q, and corresponds in this case to the rest potential. Deviations from the rest potential are called polarization voltage or polarization. At the rest potential = ly l, which is the corrosion rate in free corrosion. With anodic polarization resulting from positive total current densities, the potential becomes more positive and the corrosion rate greater. This effect is known as anodic enhancement of corrosion. For a quantitative view, it is unfortunately often overlooked that neither the corrosion rate nor its increase corresponds to anodic total current density unless the cathodic partial current is negligibly small. Quantitative forecasts are possible only if the Jq U) curve is known. 

In this type of corrosion, metal ions arising as a result of the process in Eq. (2-21) migrate into the medium. Solid corrosion products formed in subsequent reactions have little effect on the corrosion rate. The anodic partial current-density-potential curve is a constant straight line (see Fig. 2.4). 

J/ = anodic partiai current density ). Jq= cathodic partial current density /g = total anodic current = total cathodic current... 

Fig. 4-3 Schematic representation of the partial current densities in corrosion in free corrosion (a-c) and with cell formation with foreign cathodic structures (d).

If, however, it is assumed from Eq. (2-40) that the protection current density corresponds to the cathodic partial current density for the oxygen reduction reaction, where oxygen diffusion and polarization current have the same spatial distribution, it follows from Eq. (2-47) with = A0/7 ... 

Besides the use of anodic polarization with impressed current to achieve passivation, raising the cathodic partial current density by special alloying elements and the use of oxidizing inhibitors (and/or passivators) to assist the formation of passive films can be included in the anodic protection method [1-3]. 

Passivating inhibitors act in two ways. First they can reduce the passivating current density by encouraging passive film formation, and second they raise the cathodic partial current density by their reduction. Inhibitors can have either both or only one of these properties. Passivating inhibitors belong to the group of so-called dangerous inhibitors because with incomplete inhibition, severe local active corrosion occurs. In this case, passivated cathodic surfaces are close to noninhibited anodic surfaces. 

Fig. 21-6 The dependence of the passivation process on the shape of the cathodic partial current potential curve (a) Anodic partial current potential curve, (b) cathodic partial current-potential curve without local cathode rest potential (c) cathodic partial current potential curve with local cathode rest potential I7j p.

Pickering, H. W. and Byrne, P. J., Partial Currents During Anodic Dissolution of Cu-Zn Alloys at Constant Potential , J. Electrochem. Soc., 116, 1492 (1968)... 

When an electrode is at equilibrium the rate per unit area of the cathodic reaction equals that of the anodic reaction (the partial currents) and there is no net transfer of charge the potential of the electrode is the equilibrium potential and it is said to be unpolarised ... 

The net current density is the difference between the two partial current densities, and the net anodic current density can be written in the form... 

Partial Current (current densities) the currents (current densities) corresponding with each of the partial reactions. 

A consequence of this theoretical approach which includes kinetic parameters is the establishment and coupling of certain ion fluxes across the phase boundary (equality of the sum of cathodic and anodic partial currents leading to a mixed potential). If a similar approach can be applied to asymmetric biological membranes with different thermodynamic equilibrium situations at both surfaces, the active ion transport could also be understood. 

If — during this process — the Cu2+-concentration decreases, the mixed potential will shift along the cathodic partial current density curve (like a polarographic curve in this example) toward the equilibrium potential of the zinc amalgam, in case the amalgam reservior is large enough. 

Otherwise it has been shown that the accumulation of electrolytes by many cells runs at the expense of cellular energy and is in no sense an equilibrium condition 113) and that the use of equilibrium thermodynamic equations (e.g., the Nemst-equation) is not allowed in systems with appreciable leaks which indicate a kinetic steady-state 114). In addition, a superposition of partial current-voltage curves was used to explain the excitability of biological membranes112 . In interdisciplinary research the adaptation of a successful theory developed in a neighboring discipline may be beneficial, thus an attempt will be made here, to use the mixed potential model for ion-selective membranes also in the context of biomembrane surfaces. 

The sum of all cathodic partial currents across the phase boundary equals the sum of all anodic partial currents at the mixed potential therefore, a further condition is ... 

In addition to the exchange current density the transfer coefficient a is needed to describe the relationship between the electrode potential and the current flowing across the electrode/solution interface. From a formal point of view a can be obtained by calculating the partial current densities with respect to the electrode potential for the anodic reaction ... 

From a kinetic point of view a describes the influence of a change of the electrode potential on the energy of activation for the charge transfer reaction which in turn influences the partial current density. The transfer coefficients % for the anodic charge transfer reaction and for the cathodic reaction add up according to... 

II. Calculated current density and stoichiometry vs. deposition potential curves for parameter values representative of CdTe and with one partial current density diffusion limited. J Electrochem Soc 132 2910-2919... 

By definition the partial current density ij is the number of charges that in unit time cross the unit cross-sectional area due to the migration of ions j that is,... 

In electrolyte solutions the positively and negatively charged ions will move in opposite directions when an electric field is applied. Therefore, outwardly the effect of motion of positive ions is exactly the same as that of the motion of negative ions, and the total current density is the sum of the partial currents due to hansport of each type of ion ... 

Monofunctional and Polyfunctional Electrodes At monofunctional electrodes, one sole electrode reaction occurs under the conditions specified when current flows. At polyfunctional electrodes, two or more reactions occur simultaneously an example is the zinc electrode in acidic zinc sulfate solution. When the current is cathodic, metallic zinc is deposited at the electrode [reaction (1.21)] and at the same time, hydrogen is evolved [reaction (1.27)]. The relative strengths of the partial currents corresponding to these two reactions depend on the conditions (e.g., the temperature, pH, solution purity). Conditions may change so that a monofunctional electrode becomes polyfunctional, and vice versa. In the case of polyfunctional electrodes secondary (or side) reactions are distinguished from the principal (for the given purpose) reaction (e.g., zinc deposition). In the electrolytic production of substances and in other practical applications, one usually tries to suppress all side reactions so that the principal (desired) reaction will occur with the highest possible efficiency. 

Equilibria at interfaces between conducting phases are dynamic every second a certain number of charges cross the interface in one direction, and an equal number of charges cross over in the other direction. Thus, even though the overall current is zero, partial currents constantly cross the interface in both directions, and we observe an exchange of charged particles between the two phases. 

It must be pointed out that in a diffusion layer where the ions are transported not only by migration but also by diffusion, the effective transport numbers t of the ions (the ratios between partial currents ij and total current t) will differ from the parameter tj [defined by Eq. (1.13)], which is the transport number of ion j in the bulk electrolyte, where concentration gradients and diffusional transport of substances are absent. In fact, in our case the effective transport number of the reacting ions in the diffusion layer is unity and that of the nonreacting ions is zero. 

It had been shown in Section 2.2 that at the equilibrium otential, the net (external) current density i is zero, but partial cimen densities i and i of the anodic and cathodic reaction exist for which the relation i =i = f holds where i° is the exchange current density. The value of i increases, that of i decreases, when the potential is made more positive but i decreases and i increases when the potential is made more negative. The net current density i is the difference of the partial current densities ... 

In the region of high polarization the kinetic equations for partial current densities i and i coincide with the equation for the net anodic or cathodic current density, respectively ... 

---