MS3013: Electrochemical Corrosion

Academic Units3
SemesterBoth
Pre-requisite(s)Nil
Co-requisite(s)Nil

Course Instructors

Associate Professor Huang YizhongAssistant Professor Wu Dongshuang

Course AIMS

Theory component:

  1. Learn how the environmental affects the properties and performance of engineered metallic and ceramic materials.
  2. Understand the prevention of the negative environmental effects on metallic and ceramic using electrochemical methods.
  3. Master some of the basic principles of corrosion and degradation of metals and alloys.

Laboratory component:

  1. Understand the principles of electrochemistry and experimental-related set-ups.
  2. Use the electrochemical approaches to probe the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of corrosion, including the rate of corrosion.
  3. Master certain software and mathematics in dealing with the experimental data.
  4. Link the theoretical knowledge with experimental phenomena.

This would be useful for those of you who are interested corrosion engineering of materials applied in material industry.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you (as a student) would be able to:

Theory component:   

  1. Identify how the environment affects the degradation or corrosion of metallic and ceramic materials.
  2. Determine the prevention or stabilization methods for metallic and ceramic materials degradation due to environmental effects.
  3. Determine how metallic and ceramic materials can be used and their reliability in different conditions.

Laboratory component:

  1. Get hands-on knowledge on how the environment affects the degradation or corrosion of metallic and ceramic materials.
  2. Determine whether electrochemical techniques are of use for a given problem related corrosion.
  3. Correlate theoretical concepts to practical phenomena.
  4. Draw logical conclusions from experimental data.
  5. Produce reports in accordance with established practices of the engineering discipline.

Course Content

Theory component:   

  1. Electrochemical corrosion mechanism of metallic materials: Corrosion cells; The electrochemical series; Polarization; Evan's diagrams (Tafel plot); Mixed potential theory; Pourbaix diagrams and Passivation
  2. Forms of corrosion of metallic materials: Uniform corrosion; Localized corrosion including pitting, crevice corrosion, selective dissolution, intergranular corrosion, environment -sensitive cracking, flow -assisted corrosion, microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC).
  3. Principles of corrosion protection of metallic materials: Materials selection; Design against corrosion; Corrosion inhibitors; Protective coatings; Cathodic protection and anodic protection.
  4. Failure of ceramic materials in gaseous and liquid environments
  5. High temperature oxidation, oxidation in complex environment and oxidation remedy of non -oxide ceramics
  6. Briefing: principle of electrochemistry
  7. Lab Course: an introduction to electrochemistry and the general set-ups (EP1)
  8. Lab Course: polarization curve analysis (EP2)
  9. Lab Course: electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EP3)
  10. Lab Course: current distribution and mass transfer (EP4)
  11. Lab-Course: For anyone who cannot attend EP2 -4 in time or failed in any of the above experiments
  12. Tutorial or Special lecture from the experts in Electrochemistry related field

Reading and References

Theory component

Suggested reading:

  1. Electrochemistry by Carl Hamann, et. al., 2ed ed. Wiley-VCH press, 2007.
  2. Corrosion for Science and Engineering by K. R. Trethewey and J. Chamberlain, 2nd ed., Longman, 1995
  3. Fundamentals of Polymer Degradation and Stabilisation, edited by Norman S. Allen and Michelle Edge, Elsevier Science Publishers, England,1992.

Recommended references:

  1. Principles and Prevention of Corrosion by Denny Jones, 2nd ed., Prentice-Hall
  2. Corrosion Engineering by Mars G. Fontana, 3rd ed.
  3. NACE Corrosion Engineer’s Reference Book by R. Baboian, 3rd ed, NACE Press
  4. Weathering of Polymers, by Anthony Davis and David Sims, Elsevier Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England, 1983
  5. Handbook of Polymer Degradation, edited by S. Halim Hamid, Mohamad B. Amin and Ali G Maadhah, Marcel Dekker, Inc. , 1992
  6. Compositional and Failure Analysis of Polymer, by John Scheirs, John Wiley & Sons, 2000

Laboratory component

Prescribed texts:

  1. Electrochemistry by Carl Hamann, et. al., 2ed ed. Wiley-VCH press, 2007.
  2. Corrosion for Science and Engineering by K. R. Trethewey and J. Chamberlain, 2nd ed., Longman, 1995
  3. Fundamentals of Polymer Degradation and Stabilisation, edited by Norman S. Allen and Michelle Edge, Elsevier Science Publishers, England,1992.

Recommended references:

  1. Principles and Prevention of Corrosion by Denny Jones, 2nd ed., Prentice-Hall
  2. Corrosion Engineering by Mars G. Fontana, 3rd ed.
  3. NACE Corrosion Engineer’s Reference Book by R. Baboian, 3rd ed, NACE Press
  4. Weathering of Polymers, by Anthony Davis and David Sims, Elsevier Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England, 1983
  5. Handbook of Polymer Degradation, edited by S. Halim Hamid, Mohamad B. Amin and Ali G Maadhah, Marcel Dekker, Inc. , 1992
  6. Compositional and Failure Analysis of Polymer, by John Scheirs, John Wiley & Sons, 2000