Localized dissolution electrochemistry at surface irregularities of pipeline steel

Abstract The localized electrochemical dissolution behavior at surface irregularities, including scratch, mechanically induced hole and corrosion pit, on pipeline steel was investigated in both near-neutral pH and high pH solutions by scanning vibrating micro-electrode and localized electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. In near-neutral pH solution, the localized dissolution behavior at surface irregularities is dependent of their geometrical depth, which is critical to development of a local electrochemical condition to support the further localized dissolution. Therefore, surface irregularities exceeding a certain depth provide potential sites to initiate stress corrosion cracks in near-neutral pH solution. The strong passivating capability of high pH solution would result in the formation of oxide film over the whole electrode surface to “equalize” the electrochemical activity at irregularities to the intact area. Therefore, the irregularities would not result in localized dissolution electrochemistry. Consequently, localized corrosion and crack initiation are not anticipated to initiate from the geometrical irregularities in high pH solution. However, corrosion pits generating due to passive film breakdown could support the high local dissolution kinetics in high pH solution, providing potential sites for crack initiation. The effects of hydrogen-charging on anodic dissolution at regularities depend on the defect geometry and the solution pH.