AC corrosion – Part 1: Effects on overpotentials of anodic and cathodic processes

AC-induced corrosion is a controversial subject and many aspects of it need to be clarified, first and foremost, the mechanism and relationship between AC density and corrosion rate. This paper (Part 1) presents and discusses the effects of AC interference on kinetics parameters; the effects on corrosion rate and corrosion mechanism will be discussed in Part 2. Polarisation curves were obtained in different solutions (soil-simulating solution, 35 g L−1 NaCl, 1 M FeSO4, 1 M CuSO4 and 1 M ZnSO4) on different metallic materials (carbon steel, galvanised steel, zinc and copper) in the presence of AC interference (30–1000 A/m2).