Site-specific local polarisation curve measurements for probing localised corrosion and inhibition

Although polarisation curves have widely been used for corrosion behaviour, kinetics and mechanisms studies, their interpretation can be challenging specially for those measured from non-uniform electrode surfaces because such polarisation curves are a combination of many different local polarisation curves that could not be assessed individually. This short communication presents a new method for measuring local polarisation curves by means of an electrochemically integrated electrode array that enables site-specific local polarisation curve measurements. This approach is successfully illustrated by measuring and interpreting local polarisation curves from steel surfaces exposed to waterline corrosion environment, where highly localised corrosion processes occur.