Electrochemical Modeling of Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique on Scratched and Inclined Surfaces

The Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique is a valuable method for investigating localized corrosion, which has the potential to provide further insights if used in conjunction with simulation. This paper demonstrates, by combining experimental data with finite element simulations, that variation in the height of the probe to the electrode surface will cause an imbalance in the measured anodic and cathodic currents, with IR drop being a main determining factor. In addition, the simulations obtain the actual current density at/across the electrode’s surface, whereas the electrolyte current density is obtained by SVET. The galvanic corrosion at scratched and cut-edge zinc-based coated steel in a saline solution are used as examples.