Observations of aluminum pit initiation using in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy

Authors
Pinkowitz, Ainsley Caitlyn Shelburne
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Other Contributors
Duquette, David J.
Hull, Robert, 1959-
Lewis, Daniel
Gall, Daniel
Plawsky, Joel L., 1957-
Issue Date
2018-12
Keywords
Materials engineering
Degree
PhD
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This electronic version is a licensed copy owned by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Copyright of original work retained by author.
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Abstract
Pitting corrosion is a pernicious form of localized corrosion, occurring unpredictably in time and space across the surface of metals with passive or barrier oxides. Passivation is found as a naturally formed oxide layer on aluminum, aluminum alloys, and other common structural materials such as titanium and steel. Typically this passivation layer serves as a diffusion barrier to prevent corrosive reactions at the metal/electrolyte interface, however, breakdown in the passivation layer can lead to extremely localized attack, known as a pit. Passivity breakdown is typically associated with the chloride anion, ubiquitous in seawater, rainwater, and soil. Pit growth is autocatalytic once stable, and can rapidly penetrate materials. This creates difficult-to-detect flaws in the material which can become crack initiation sites, or holes. At best these corrosion pits are detected with rigorous inspection and person-hours—at worst, they can lead to catastrophic disasters such as oil pipeline spills and offshore rig explosions.
Description
December 2018
School of Engineering
Department
Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Relationships
Rensselaer Theses and Dissertations Online Collection
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