Abstract
Most forms of corrosion are the result of electrochemical processes; therefore, the effectiveness of corrosion inhibitors is largely determined by the electrochemical potential of the metal that is to be protected. This potential, together with the pH and the electrochemical reactivity of any component added to the corrosive environment, will determine whether oxidation—reduction reactions will occur on the metal surface. If difficultly-soluble compounds form on the metal as a result of such reactions, then the metal can become passivated and the additive is potentially a corrosion inhibitor.(1,2) If, on the other hand, there is no electrochemical transformation of the additive, then the role of the potential will be to affect the free energy of adsorption of the components of the solution. The surface concentration of the adsorbate will therefore depend on the potential and, as described by the Bronsted—Polanyi—Semenov principle, on the activation energy of adsorption. In this connection, one of the fundamental concepts of electrochemistry introduced by Frumkin in 1927, the potential of zero charge of a metal E q=0, is of considerable importance.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kuznetsov, Y.I., Mercer, A.D., Thomas, J.G.N. (1996). Electrochemical Aspects of the Inhibition of Corrosion of Metals. In: Organic Inhibitors of Corrosion of Metals. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1956-4_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1956-4_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1958-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1956-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive