Improved design of available atmospheric corrosion monitoring sensor with a higher sensitivity to low NaCl deposition

The development of electrochemistry-based sensors is central to in-situ atmospheric corrosion monitoring of materials under conditions of both outdoor and indoor exposures. In this work, an improved design with an exposed Cu teeth height in the two member electrodes of the traditional EIS-based atmospheric corrosion sensor makes the sensor more sensitive under the thin electrolyte layer. With the noble design, the improved sensor exhibits a high sensitivity in surface electrolyte generation when the NaCl deposition is higher than 20 mg/m2, and a good corrosion rate response to NaCl deposition as low as 2 mg/m2. The grooves between adjacent exposed Cu teeth facilitate the formation of electrolyte layer under the hygroscopic effect of NaCl deposition, and thus improve sensitivity of the sensor to low NaCl deposition. Therefore, the improved sensor has broad potential applications in field conditions to monitor low NaCl deposition induced thin electrolyte layer evolution and corrosivity assessment of the atmosphere.

Automated summary

The development of electrochemistry-based sensors is crucial for monitoring atmospheric corrosion. In this work, an improved design of a corrosion sensor with exposed Cu teeth height increases its sensitivity under thin electrolyte layers. The sensor shows high sensitivity to low NaCl deposition and is effective in the formation of electrolyte layers.