SECM imaging of the cut edge corrosion of galvanized steel as a function of pH

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and the scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) were employed to identify the local reactivity and the cathodes and anodes on a cut edge of galvanized steel. The SECM was used in the amperometric feedback mode, using a redox mediator, for sensing the conductivity of the surface and also in the redox competition mode for locating the depletion of the cathodic reactant. Good agreement was observed in acidic solution between the location of the conductive regions of the surface and the depletion of oxygen estimated from amperometric lines across the cut edge. In nearly neutral medium, non-uniform activity of the steel surface was observed and correlated well with the ionic current flows in solution and with the accumulation of zinc corrosion products on steel. In alkaline medium the entire steel surface operated as electron source for the regeneration cycle of the redox mediator. Irrespective of the pH of the solution, a maximum of the feedback observed over the cut edge is consentaneous with the thermodynamic stability of iron in the reduced form. SECM provided useful information regarding the steel conductivity, whereas the zinc anodes could only be resolved by the SVET.

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