ADVANCED CORROSION STUDIES USING ULTRASENSITIVE MAGNETIC IMAGING TECHNIQUES

A NEW POWERFUL NONINVASIVE TECHNIQUE FOR MONITORING ELECTROCHEMICAL CORROSION PROCESSES VIA THEIR ASSOCIATED MAGNETIC FIELDS IS DEMONSTRATED. SIMPLE ANALYSIS OF THE TIME EVOLUTION OF THESE MAGNETIC FIELDS CAN HIGHLIGHT SPECIFIC MAGNETIC SIGNATURES ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIFIC CORROSION PHENOMENA SUCH AS PITTING. RESEARCHERS DEVELOPED A FULLY AUTOMATED ULTRASENSITIVE DETECTION SYSTEM SPECIFICALLY FOR THE STUDY OF CORROSION. THIS INSTRUMENT HAS ALREADY PROVIDED VERY IMPORTANT, AND PERHAPS VERY SIGNIFICANT, DATA CONCERNING FUNDAMENTAL CORROSION PROCESSES AND INVESTIGATORS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE UNIQUE MEASUREMENT CAPABILITIES TO FURTHER FUNDAMENTAL CORROSION PROCESSES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED MAGNETIC SIGNATURES. THEY ARE ALSO EXAMINING WAYS TO INCREASE THE SENSITIVITY OF MAGNETIC METHODS OF MONITORING CORROSION, AND DEVISING ALGORITHMS TO CONVERT MEASURED FIELDS INTO PRIMARY ELECTROCHEMICAL PARAMETERS.