Hydrogen ion reduction in the process of iron rusting

Since the acceptance of the electrochemical rusting mechanism, oxygen reduction has been considered the main cathodic process, while H+ reduction has been overlooked for the past four decades because oxygen can be readily renewed due to the thin layer of solution film formed during atmospheric corrosion. This study shows that measurable hydrogen can be detected at the surface opposite to the corroding side of the specimen during wet-dry cycles, and a clear correlation exists between the quantities of hydrogen permeated through iron sheet and weight loss. Results suggest the intrinsic importance of H+ reduction that merits further investigation.