Polarization evaluation of metal degradation processes
US4169768A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 1978 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N17/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electrochemical technique and device for estimating absolute rates of metal degradation through evaluation of the stability of petroleum film at an interface such as a metal/petroleum phase/aqueous phase. Basically, there is provided a polarization cell comprising separate compartments for containing immiscible liquids. The liquids have different densities and in a typical test the first compartment contains a first phase of lighter density, such as petroleum, and the second, smaller compartment contains a second phase of relatively greater density, such as water. Electrodes are provided such that a metal rod (which is of the same metal as the component for which metal degradation information is desired) typically referred to as the "working" electrode is positioned relative to an "auxiliary" electrode and placed in contact sequentially with the petroleum phase and with the aqueous phase in order to simulate conditions occurring in field operations. By applying an external potential to the "working" electrode, the metal can be polarized both cathodically and anodically, and the degradation characteristics of the metal can be tested and evaluated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.