A.c. corrosion of delta-52 steel in K2SO4 solutions

Abstract

The effect of a sinusoidal alternating current (a.c.) on the corrosion of Delta-52 steel in K₂SO₄ solutions was investigated. The data reveal that on applying a.c. the corrosion rate increases. The corrosion rate also increases with increasing a.c. density. This behaviour can be interpreted in terms of the effect of a.c. on the anodic and cathodic polarization and consequently on the rate of the electrode processes. A potentiodynamic anodic potential scan of the steel electrode was performed under the influence of superimposed a.c. The results show that the dissolution current density is enhanced and the corrosion potential is shifted to more active values. This effect decreases at higher a.c. frequencies.