Automated local electrochemical characterization on metals with complex shape and practice-related surface state

Abstract

Various electrochemical techniques exist to study corrosion processes locally. Generally, sample preparation is required to ensure smooth surfaces, which may limit the applicability of experimental findings to engineering conditions. To overcome these limitations, we use a probe with a soft porous diaphragm that establishes electrolytic connection to unprepared metal surfaces. We develop a setup that combines this probe with a robotic device to ensure reproducible probe positioning. Results illustrate that through adjusting the force at the soft probe, the contact area can be modified. The robotic device can position the probe on non-flat, complex-shaped samples such as cylindrical, corrugated bars (reinforcing steel). As the porous diaphragm tends to become contaminated in the course of subsequent measurements, an automated probe cleaning procedure is implemented. Finally, automation of the measurements can allow for high-throughput local characterization, to deliver local characterization data suitable for statistical and spatial analysis.