EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/L43022/01
Title: MICROSCOPIC PROBES OF REACTIVITY IN ELECTROCHEMICAL SYSTEMS, APPLIED TO LOCALISED CORROSION INITIATION
Principal Investigator: Williams, Professor D
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: UCL
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 December 1997 Ends: 30 November 1999 Value (£): 147,796
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Electrochemical Science & Eng. Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The proposal is for extension of a current grant. We have successfully adapted a commercial AFM to produce a scanning electrochemical microscope which has superior spatial, temporal and current resolution. For the first time, small-scale spatial and temporal fluctuations of passive current density of stainless steel have been detected and the initiation of pitting corrosion from some such pa-scale fluctuations directly demonstrated. Probably, the very small changes which trigger pitting corrosion occur on or at certain sulphide-containing inclusions, but I have not yet proved this. A coherent theoretical description of why such very small changes in local passive current density should trigger such a dramatic event as pitting breakdown has not been achieved either. Therefore, the extension would aim: to find the key elements of topography and composition which trigger the corrosion; to confirm whether or not it is only sulphide inclusions which cause the critical fluctuations and identify the causal local chemistry which seems to make only some inclusions active; and to develop a rigorous theoretical description of the self-amplification of the small local fluctuations.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: