Together with Dr. Elmira Ghanbari and Prof. Scott Lillard, we have recently published a new original peer-reviewed article on the mechanisms of alternating current (AC) induced corrosion of carbon and low alloy steels in aqueous electrolytes (e.g., seawater.)

In this paper, Elmira proposes a simple and elegant mechanism that fully explains the effect of an alternating current or, more generically, an electromagnetic field on corrosion of carbon and low alloy steels.  Previous models all failed to explain the effect of an AC interference on the corrosion response of carbon and low alloy steels. As Elmira shows, most models were based on erroneous experimental observations. The mechanisms proposed in our investigation adequately describes the Faradaic and non-Faradic process occurring at the metal/electrolyte interface during corrosion. The model takes into account AC frequency, amplitude, and shape.

An inflection point in AC induced corrosion research

I think Elmira’s work marks an inflection point in AC induced corrosion research. In this seminal paper, Elmira describes the complex reactions that take place during corrosion of carbon steel in NaCl environments when an AC field is superimposed to a DC potential. The model can be applied, for example, to estimate the effect of induced AC fields on corrosion of submerged systems, such as subsea oil and gas equipment. Elmira and Scott are presently working on extending the mechanisms to soil environments, with a focus on buried pipelines.

You can download a copy of the article from CORROSION journal website or by clicking on the image below.

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Update February 5, 2017

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