EMA 4324 Problem Set 10

5-1. Plot the following cathodic polarization data for carbon steel in
0.5N H2SO4 on linear coordinates and determine the polarization
resistance. From the shape of the plot, would you estimate that
the absolute value of βA is greater or less than βC?
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current density,
40 100 160 240 300
µA/cm2
cathodic
1.0 2.5 4.1 6.3 9.0
overvoltage, mV

350

300
current density, uA/cm^2

Rp = 6.4x10^(-3)/250x10^(-6)
250 = 25.6 ohm

200

150

100

50

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
cathodic overvoltage, mV

The fact that cathodic overvoltage increases with increased

current density suggests that βC>β
βA [see Figure 5.2[d] from text].
5-2. With the following potential current log I
anodic and cathodic *********** *********** ***********
polarization data - the -0.688 2.00E-002 -1.70
same conditions as -0.660 1.00E-002 -2.00
Problem 5-1, but larger -0.644 7.00E-003 -2.15
currents - plot the -0.627 5.00E-003 -2.30
polarization curves on -0.602 3.00E-003 -2.52
semilogarithmic -0.585 2.00E-003 -2.70
coordinates and -0.562 1.00E-003 -3.00
determine βA, βC, Ecorr -0.549 7.00E-004 -3.15
and Icorr. -0.540 5.00E-004 -3.30
******************** -0.530 3.00E-004 -3.52
-0.522 2.00E-004 -3.70
-0.520 1.01E-004 -4.00
-0.510 1.01E-004 -4.00
-0.508 2.00E-004 -3.70
-0.503 3.00E-004 -3.52
-0.499 5.00E-004 -3.30
-0.494 7.00E-004 -3.15
-0.490 1.00E-003 -3.00
-0.477 2.00E-003 -2.70
-0.470 3.00E-003 -2.52
-0.458 5.00E-003 -2.30
-0.448 7.00E-003 -2.15
-0.437 1.00E-002 -2.00
-0.420 2.00E-002 -1.70
 -1.5

βΑΑ=0.062
log current, log[I], amperes -2.0
βC=0.103
-2.5

-3.0
Icorr = 10^(-3.34)
-3.5 = 4.57x10^(-4) A

-4.0

Ecorr = -0.519 v
-4.5
-0.75 -0.70 -0.65 -0.60 -0.55 -0.50 -0.45 -0.40
potential, v SCE

5-3. From the results of Problem 5-2, calculate the value of the
proportionality constant, B, between icorr and Rp in equation [8].
Then calculate the icorr corresponding to the Rp found in Problem
5-1.
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B = βAβC/[2.3(β
βA+ββC)] = 0.103*0.062/[2.3(0.062+0.103)] = 0.0168

Icorr = B/Rp = 0.0168/25.6 = 6.57x10-4 A [compare with 4.57x10-4 A

from Tafel plot extrapolation]