Effective electrode preparation and evaluation of crevice-free steel electrodes

Abstract

Crevice corrosion is hard to avoid when the corrosion resistance of steel electrodes needs to be evaluated in laboratory tests. It is particularly difficult when chloride ions are present in the electrolyte. This problem is recurrent when studying the performance of construction steel in concrete pore-simulating solutions that replicate marine exposure. Other steel applications in aggressive environments face the same problem. This study describes a simple pre-treatment implemented on the steel bars before the electrodes were constructed, which successfully minimizes the risk of electrodes showing crevice after an electrochemical evaluation in chloride-rich electrolytes. The pre-treatment efficacy can last from several months to years, depending on how frequently the electrodes are used.