Patent · US Expired

Corrosion monitoring

US5139627A · kind A · utility

69Cited by
5References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 14, 1990
Grant dateAug 18, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 14, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N17/02
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting and measuring localized corrosion of a metallic surface is described. An array of electrodes fabricated from the same material as the metallic surface is exposed to the same corrosion conditions as the metallic surface. The coupling current between two electrodes of the array is measured, and the electrochemical current noise originating in the electrode array is measured. The two measurements are compared, the electrochemical current noise increasing as compared to the coupling current as the degree to which corrosion is localized increases. The electrochemical current noise originating in the coupled array electrode and the associated electrochemical corrosion potential noise are produced by the natural corrosion processes. The corrosion current is measured by comparison or correlation of the electrochemical current noise and the electrochemical potential noise, the electrochemical potential being measured by means of a third electrode in the array, a reference electrode or a relatively inert electrode. Comparison or correlation of the electrochemical potential noise to the electrochemical current noise provides a resistive noise or impedance,…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.