SEDL / STP / STP1154-EB / STP24695S

Software for Quantitative Analysis of Polarization Curves

Shih, H
Corrosion and Environmental Effects LaboratoryUniversity of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Mansfeld, F
Corrosion and Environmental Effects LaboratoryUniversity of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Pages: 12    Published: Jan 1992

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Abstract

A computer program (POLFIT) has been developed for the analysis of polarization curves that provides full graphics functions and has both simulation and fitting procedures. Electrochemical parameters such as anodic and cathodic Tafel slopes, polarization resistance, corrosion current density, and corrosion potential, the errors for each of these parameters, and the results of the statistical analysis are displayed in tabular form. The experimental and fitted polarization data are plotted on the computer screen and can be obtained as hard copies. A unique feature is the possibility of eliminating the uncompensated ohmic resistance (R^u) in the data analysis. Inspection of the current deviation between the experimental and fitted data points at each potential allows elimination of data points with excessive scatter and detection of systematic errors such as those arising from the neglect of R^u in the data analysis. The performance V of the program has been evaluated for theoretical data with various random normal noise levels and for experimental data (Cu/artificial seawater).