Mathematical model for cathodic delamination using a porosity–pH relationship

A mathematical model was developed to simulate the transient propagation of the cathodic delamination on a coated metal. The model employed porosity and the polarization kinetics at the metal-coating interface that were assumed to be dependent on the local pH. The simulations provided qualitative agreement with published experimental results for a zinc coated system characterized by extremely rapid cathodic delamination. The mathematical model described in this work provides a foundation on which more sophisticated models can be constructed.