USING THREE-ELECTRODE ELECTROCHEMICAL IMPEDANCE SPECTROSCOPY SENSORS TO MONITOR PAINT DEGRADATION IN SEAWATER
Open Access
Author:
Terosky, Justin
Area of Honors:
Engineering Science
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Barbara Shaw, Thesis Supervisor Gary L Gray, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Corrosion EIS Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
Abstract:
Corrosion and the associated maintenance cost the United States Navy an estimated amount of over $4 billion annually [1]. The primary protective measure against corrosion in seafaring vessels is anti-corrosive paint coatings, and therefore monitoring the health of these coatings would allow more productive and cost-effective maintenance. Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) testing, breakdown painted coatings can be detected before it becomes visually apparent. Due to this, thin-film Ag/AgCl electrodes along with a small potentiostat and computer interface would allow for effective, modular corrosion-detecting devices. These sensors could be used to monitor the health of the anti-corrosive coatings on Navy Ships, which would reduce maintenance time and costs, and increase the safety and lifespan of these vessels. To determine whether these sensors would be able to collect usable data, a small, corrosion-resistant fixture was developed on which to mount panels coated in Army Chemical Agent Resistant Coating (CARC) with thin-film Ag/AgCl electrodes attached, and atmospheric corrosion data caused by exposure in the Pennsylvania State University Atmospheric Corrosion Testing Site to determine the reliability of these applique sensors over time. It was found that the applique electrodes were able to perform consistently with respect to control testing for the entire exposure period of four months.
