Comparison of Potentiodynamically Determined Pitting Rates with Actual Pitting Rates for Mild Steel and Admiralty Brass in Oxygen Bearing Waters

Pitting rates of mild steel and admiralty brass, determined microscopically are compared with those obtained potentiodynamically for both laboratory and field tests. The comparisons clearly demonstrate that the potentiodynamic method is a viable means for measuring the pitting rates of the systems studied. Solution resistance effects for TDS levels below 452 ppm greatly overshadow the rates obtained potentiodynamically. Consequently, special electrode configurations need be utilized in order to obtain meaningful results for these lower TDS solutions.