Temporal series of micrographs coupled with electrochemical techniques to analyze pitting corrosion of AISI 1040 steel in carbonate and chloride solutions

•In-situ optical microscopy was coupled with electrochemical techniques.•AISI 1040 steel corrosion was investigated in carbonate and chloride solution.•The results analysis allowed to observe pit grown on surface.•Pit number, pit area, pit diameter, and mean pit depth were calculated.

This work presents a method to study corrosion reactions in real time by the analysis of a temporal series of micrographs using in situ optical microscopy coupled to electrochemical techniques. The approach was applied to study the pitting corrosion of AISI 1040 steel during chronoamperometric measurements, in carbonate and chloride solutions. Using this coupled approach, it was possible to measure different pit parameters as well as to estimate the mean pit depth. The number of pits and the total pit area presented different behaviors as the chloride concentration increased and active and passive pits were detected.

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