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Title: Direct observation of pitting corrosion evolutions on carbon steel surfaces at the nano-to-micro- scales

Abstract

The Cl¯-induced corrosion of metals and alloys is of relevance to a wide range of engineered materials, structures, and systems. Because of the challenges in studying pitting corrosion in a quantitative and statistically significant manner, its kinetics remain poorly understood. Herein, by direct, nano- to micro-scale observations using vertical scanning interferometry (VSI), we examine the temporal evolution of pitting corrosion on AISI 1045 carbon steel over large surface areas in Cl¯-free, and Cl¯-enriched solutions. Special focus is paid to examine the nucleation and growth of pits, and the associated formation of roughened regions on steel surfaces. By statistical analysis of hundreds of individual pits, three stages of pitting corrosion, namely, induction, propagation, and saturation, are quantitatively distinguished. By quantifying the kinetics of these processes, we contextualize our current understanding of electrochemical corrosion within a framework that considers spatial dynamics and morphology evolutions. In the presence of Cl¯ ions, corrosion is highly accelerated due to multiple autocatalytic factors including destabilization of protective surface oxide films and preservation of aggressive microenvironments within the pits, both of which promote continued pit nucleation and growth. Furthermore these findings offer new insights into predicting and modeling steel corrosion processes in mid-pH aqueous environments

Authors:
 [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1500090
Grant/Contract Number:  
NE0008398
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Scientific Reports
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 8; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Guo, Peng, La Plante, Erika Callagon, Wang, Bu, Chen, Xin, Balonis, Magdalena, Bauchy, Mathieu, and Sant, Gaurav. Direct observation of pitting corrosion evolutions on carbon steel surfaces at the nano-to-micro- scales. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-26340-5.
Guo, Peng, La Plante, Erika Callagon, Wang, Bu, Chen, Xin, Balonis, Magdalena, Bauchy, Mathieu, & Sant, Gaurav. Direct observation of pitting corrosion evolutions on carbon steel surfaces at the nano-to-micro- scales. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26340-5
Guo, Peng, La Plante, Erika Callagon, Wang, Bu, Chen, Xin, Balonis, Magdalena, Bauchy, Mathieu, and Sant, Gaurav. Tue . "Direct observation of pitting corrosion evolutions on carbon steel surfaces at the nano-to-micro- scales". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26340-5. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1500090.
@article{osti_1500090,
title = {Direct observation of pitting corrosion evolutions on carbon steel surfaces at the nano-to-micro- scales},
author = {Guo, Peng and La Plante, Erika Callagon and Wang, Bu and Chen, Xin and Balonis, Magdalena and Bauchy, Mathieu and Sant, Gaurav},
abstractNote = {The Cl¯-induced corrosion of metals and alloys is of relevance to a wide range of engineered materials, structures, and systems. Because of the challenges in studying pitting corrosion in a quantitative and statistically significant manner, its kinetics remain poorly understood. Herein, by direct, nano- to micro-scale observations using vertical scanning interferometry (VSI), we examine the temporal evolution of pitting corrosion on AISI 1045 carbon steel over large surface areas in Cl¯-free, and Cl¯-enriched solutions. Special focus is paid to examine the nucleation and growth of pits, and the associated formation of roughened regions on steel surfaces. By statistical analysis of hundreds of individual pits, three stages of pitting corrosion, namely, induction, propagation, and saturation, are quantitatively distinguished. By quantifying the kinetics of these processes, we contextualize our current understanding of electrochemical corrosion within a framework that considers spatial dynamics and morphology evolutions. In the presence of Cl¯ ions, corrosion is highly accelerated due to multiple autocatalytic factors including destabilization of protective surface oxide films and preservation of aggressive microenvironments within the pits, both of which promote continued pit nucleation and growth. Furthermore these findings offer new insights into predicting and modeling steel corrosion processes in mid-pH aqueous environments},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-26340-5},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
number = 1,
volume = 8,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue May 22 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Tue May 22 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}

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Cited by: 27 works
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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1 Figure 1: Representative frequency diagrams showing the distribution of height differences across different pixel locations for AISI 1045 steel reacting with: (a) DI water, and (b) 100 mM NaCl solution. The height difference is calculated by subtracting the heights at a given (x, y) location at the respective times indicatedmore » in the legend from that at t = 0 h. As such, negative height differences indicate mass loss (e.g., pit formation, and surface roughening), and positive height differences indicate the deposition of corrosion products. (c) and (d) are the distributions over the height range of −5 to 5 μm, showing in more detail the respective height distributions in (a) and (b).« less

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On the formation of β-FeOOH (akaganéite) in chloride-containing environments
journal, February 2007


Localized corrosion (pitting): A model of passivity breakdown including the role of the oxide layer nanostructure
journal, September 2008


Corrosion resistance of carbon steel in weak acid solutions in the presence of l-histidine as corrosion inhibitor
journal, April 2013


Nanostructure and local properties of oxide layers grown on stainless steel in simulated pressurized water reactor environment
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A study on the initiation of pitting corrosion in carbon steel in chloride-containing media using scanning electrochemical probes
journal, September 2010


Dynamic contact angles on PTFE surface by aqueous surfactant solution in the absence and presence of electrolytes
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Use of SIMS to Investigate the Induction Stage in the Pitting of Iron
journal, January 1989

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Stochastic Models of Pitting Corrosion of Stainless Steels
journal, January 1985

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Occurrence of Salt Films during Initiation and Growth of Corrosion Pits
journal, January 1979

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The Behavior of Resistive Layers in the Localized Corrosion of Stainless Steel
journal, January 1973

  • Isaacs, H. S.
  • Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 120, Issue 11
  • DOI: 10.1149/1.2403283

On the Mechanism of Localized Corrosion of Iron and Stainless Steel
journal, January 1972

  • Frankenthal, R. P.; Pickering, H. W.
  • Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 119, Issue 10
  • DOI: 10.1149/1.2403983

Surface Preparation and Pit Propagation in Stainless Steels
journal, January 1972

  • Isaacs, H. S.; Kissel, G.
  • Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 119, Issue 12
  • DOI: 10.1149/1.2404061

Pitting Corrosion Resistance of Martensite of AISI 1045 Steel and the Beneficial Role of Interstitial Carbon
journal, January 2017

  • Kadowaki, Mariko; Muto, Izumi; Sugawara, Yu
  • Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 164, Issue 14
  • DOI: 10.1149/2.0541714jes

A Micro-Raman Spectroscopic Study of Marine Atmospheric Corrosion of Carbon Steel: The Effect of Akaganeite
journal, January 2015

  • Li, Shengxi; Hihara, L. H.
  • Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 162, Issue 9
  • DOI: 10.1149/2.0881509jes

Initiation and Growth of Pits on High-Purity Iron and its Alloys with Chromium and Copper in Neutral Chloride Solutions
journal, July 1972


Fatigue-crack initiation at corrosion pits
journal, January 1982


Pitting Corrosion of Metals [金属の孔食]
journal, January 1967


Does a dissolution-precipitation mechanism explain concrete creep in moist environments?
text, January 2015


Deterministic Prediction of Pit Depth Distribution
journal, June 1998

  • Engelhardt, G.; Macdonald, D. D.
  • CORROSION, Vol. 54, Issue 6
  • DOI: 10.5006/1.3284875

Metastable Pitting of Stainless Steel
journal, July 1987

  • Frankel, G. S.; Stockert, L.; Hunkeler, F.
  • CORROSION, Vol. 43, Issue 7
  • DOI: 10.5006/1.3583880

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