Electrochemistry

Corrosion

OXYGEN IS ONE OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE FORCES IN MODERN SOCIETY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE BUILD AND MANUFACTURE USING METALS.  FROM RUSTING IRON REBAR, TO STRESS CORROSION CRACKING ON ALUMINUM HULLED CRAFT, TO THE EXTREMELY CORROSION RESISTANT NICKEL ALLOYS USED FOR POTENTIAL NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE, CORROSION HAPPENS.

GAMRY HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ELECTROCHEMICAL CORROSION TESTING SINCE OUR INCEPTION IN 1989.

Corrosion is the chemical or electrochemical reaction between a material, usually a metal, and its environment that produces a deterioration of the metal and its properties (see ASTM G 15). A chemist would classify corrosion as an oxidation, an electron-transfer reaction involving the loss of electrons.Since corrosion is an electrochemical process, it follows that electrochemical techniques and electrochemical instrumentation can be used to study the corrosion process. Indeed, a number of electrochemical techniques have been developed over the years especially for the measurement of corrosion processes. Electrochemical techniques are very well accepted by the corrosion community and it is the rare corrosion laboratory that does not make routine use of these tools.

the popularity of electrochemical techniques for corrosion measurement are

They are fast. 

They are sensitive. They are

accurate. They are

versatile. Most are non-destructive

corrosion measurement techniques breakdown into DC, AC, and Noise.

All Gamry potentiostats can be set up to perform DC, AC, and Noise corrosion testing, though for very low corrosion rate systems, the Reference 600 is the best choice due to its superior low current performance.

GAMRY OFFERS SIMPLE MULTIPLE CHANNEL TESTING WITH OUR ECM8 ELECTROCHEMICAL MULTIPLEXER WHICH ALLOWS FOR ONE POTENTIOSTAT TO DO THE WORK OF EIGHT, AND GREATLY SIMPLIFIES LONGER RUN EXPERIMENTS.

ECM8 Electrochemical Multiplexer

multiple channel testing

Gamry also has several electrochemical cells that are good for various corrosion tests  

MultiPort

EuroCell

ParaCell

FlexCell

new to corrosion research

If you are new to corrosion research and electrochemical corrosion testing in particular, you may want to start with a quick look at our Application Note Basics of Electrochemical Corrosion Measurements, and consider enrolling in a short course like the one taught at Pennsylvania State University every summer.

already familiar with the corrosion process

For those who are already familiar with the corrosion process, please have a look at our Application Notes covering Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, and consider swapping your Rp/Ec Trend out with EFM Trend.

Gamry Instruments has been producing lower cost, electrically isolated potentiostats for corrosion testing since 1989.

We have the right instrument for your application

Gamry Instruments ~ 734 Louis Drive ~ Warminster, PA 18974 ~ USAPhone: +215-682-9330 ~ Toll-Free: 1-877-367-4267 ~ sales@gamry.com

Corrosion is one of a series on Electrochemistry Applications.

Look for more on Batteries, Paintings & Coatings, Fuel Cells,

Physical Electrochemistry and Supercapacitors.

Visit us at www.gamry.com