Electrochemical Corrosion Testing
Electrochemical Corrosion Testing: Accelerated Material Performance Analysis
Electrochemical corrosion testing evaluates the durability of metals and alloys by measuring their electrical behavior in controlled, corrosive environments. By applying a precise voltage or current, our laboratory rapidly accelerates the corrosion process—simulating years of real-world environmental exposure in a fraction of the time.
This proactive method provides critical data for material selection, ensuring component integrity in harsh or hazardous environments where structural failure is not an option.
ELECTROCHEMICAL CORROSION APPLICATIONS
Electrochemical testing provides essential data when conventional, passive weathering trials are impractical or too slow:
Analysis of Medical Devices: determine crevice corrosion susceptibility
Comparison of Raw Materials: screen for corrosion characteristics
Evaluate Effects: investigate passivation or surface modifications of corrosive behavior
Measure Processing Effects: evaluate and compare corrosion properties
Evaluate Bimetal Combinations: examine for galvanic corrosion behavior
| Method & Standard | Primary Purpose | Test Procedure / Mechanism | Key Applications & Industries |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cyclic Potentiodynamic Polarization (CPP)
(ASTM F2129)
|
Identifies corrosion potential, corrosion current density, passivation potential, reaction kinetics, and overall corrosion rate. | Scans the electrical potential of a working electrode over a set range and reverses it back to the start at a constant rate, measuring the resulting current. | Studying localized corrosion phenomena like pitting and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) across various metals/alloys. |
|
Corrosion Susceptibility of Fe, Ni, Co Alloys
(ASTM G61)
|
Evaluates corrosion resistance, calculates corrosion rates, and checks for susceptibility to intergranular corrosion, pitting, and SCC. | Immerses the alloy specimen in a sulfuric acid and ferric sulfate solution. Measures electrical potential at regular intervals over 24 to 72 hours. | Aerospace, chemical processing, and oil and gas industries; simulating harsh sulfuric acid industrial environments and testing corrosion inhibitors. |
|
Galvanic Corrosion
(ASTM G71)
|
Evaluates relative galvanic corrosion resistance of dissimilar metal combinations; determines the impact of temperature/pH and evaluates protective coatings. | Places two different metal specimens in direct contact within a holder, immerses them in an electrolyte, and monitors anode weight loss or uses electrochemical techniques (e.g., EIS). | Engineering designs utilizing dissimilar metal contact, environmental impact testing, and protective coating evaluation. |
|
Galvanic Corrosion of Medical Implants
(ASTM F3044)
|
Assesses the potential for corrosion-induced failures when dissimilar metallic implant components come into contact inside the human body. | Immerses the medical implant components in a simulated body fluid (SBF) and measures the electrical potential between them to calculate galvanic current and corrosion rate. | Biomedical engineering and medical device manufacturing; ensuring the safety and biocompatibility of multi-part metallic implants. |
| Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR) | Provides a rapid, non-destructive measurement of the | Applies a very small electrical potential (voltage) to a metal | Aerospace, automotive, oil & gas, and infrastructure; |
Dezincification Testing
Electrochemical Corrosion Testing
Environmental Stress Cracking (ESC)
Formicary (Ant’s Nest) Corrosion Evaluation
Heat & Fluid Aging
Mercurous Nitrate Testing
Passivation Testing of Medical Components
Potentiodynamic Corrosion
Residual and Assembly Stress Testing of Copper Alloys
Sensitization Testing
Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC)
ELECTROCHEMICAL CORROSION FAQ
Electrochemical corrosion testing is a technique used to evaluate the corrosion resistance of metallic materials in a given environment. The technique involves measuring the electrochemical properties of the material to determine its susceptibility to corrosion.
There are various types of electrochemical corrosion testing methods, including linear polarization resistance (LPR), cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP), galvanic corrosion testing, critical pitting temperature (CPT) testing, and others.
Electrochemical corrosion testing provides a rapid, non-destructive, and accurate method for evaluating the corrosion resistance of metallic materials. It is also highly reproducible, allowing for consistent and reliable results.
Electrochemical corrosion testing can be used to evaluate the corrosion resistance of a wide range of metallic materials, including alloys, steels, and non-ferrous metals.
The corrosion rate of a material is affected by factors such as the chemical composition of the material, the nature of the environment (e.g., pH, temperature, humidity), and the presence of other substances (e.g., impurities, dissolved gasses).
The duration of electrochemical corrosion testing varies depending on the specific test method and the material being tested. Some tests may take a few hours, while others may take several weeks or months.
ELECTROCHEMICAL CORROSION ASTM TESTING METHODS
- ASTM G59: Standard Test Method for Conducting Potentiodynamic Polarization Resistance Measurements
- ASTM G85: Standard Practice for Modified Salt Spray (Fog) Testing
- ASTM G59: Standard Test Method for Conducting Cyclic Potentiodynamic Polarization Measurements for Localized Corrosion Susceptibility of Iron, Nickel, or Cobalt-based Alloys
- ASTM G69: Standard Test Method for Measurement of Corrosion Potentials of Aluminum Alloys
- ASTM G71: Standard Guide for Conducting and Evaluating Galvanic Corrosion Tests in Electrolytes
- ASTM G150: Standard Test Method for Electrochemical Critical Pitting Temperature Testing of Stainless Steels and Related Alloys
RELEVANT ACCREDITATIONS
Click here for a complete list of accreditations and certifications for all IMR Test Labs locations.
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