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With this widely used technique in corrosion monitoring, the polarization resistance of
a material is defined as the slope of the potential-current density (DE/Di) curve at the
free corrosion potential, yielding the polarization resistance Rp that can be related (for
reactions under activation control) to the corrosion current by the Stern-Geary
equation:
where:
Rp is the polarization resistance
icorr the corrosion current
The proportionality constant , B, for a particular system can he determined empirically
(calibrated from separate weight loss measurements) or, as shown by
Stern and Geary, can be calculated from ba and bc, the slopes of the anodic and
cathodic Tafel slopes, i.e.
Corrosion Monitoring
Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR)
Polarization resistance is particularly useful as a method to rapidly identify corrosion
upsets and initiate remedial action, thereby prolonging plant life and minimizing
unscheduled downtime. The technique is utilized to maximum effect, when installed
as a continuous monitoring system. This technique has been used successfully for
over thirty years, in almost all types of water-based, corrosive environments. Some of
the more common applications are:
Cooling water systems
Secondary recovery system
Potable water treatment and distribution systems
Amine sweetening
Waste water treatment systems
Pickling and mineral extraction processes
Pulp and paper manufacturing
Hydrocarbon production with free water
The measurement of polarization resistance has very similar requirements to the
measurement of full polarization curves. There are essentially four different methods
of making the measurement according to whether the current or the potential is
controlled and whether the current (or potential) is swept smoothly from one value to
another, or simply switched between two values. In addition the measurement may be
made between two nominally identical electrodes (a two-electrode system), or a
conventional three-electrode system (working, reference and counter) may be used
Electrochemical Noise
Electrochemical Noise, commonly abbreviated ECN, is an
electrochemical technique in which the potential and/or current
signals that arise directly from the electrochemical reactions taking
place on an electrode surface are measured and interpreted. ECN is
of intense ongoing interest because of the totally non-invasive
nature of the measurement when performed with a Zero Resistance
Ammeter (ZRA). The electrochemical instrument is not applying any
signal to the sample that might improperly influence the result. This
perturbation may be of concern in every electrochemical experiment
other than noise.