Galvanic corrosion

• Galvanic corrosion is either a chemical or an

electrochemical corrosion. The latter is due to a
potential difference between two different
metals connected through a circuit for current
flow to occur from more active metal (more
negative potential) to the more noble metal
(more positive potential)
• Galvanic coupling is a galvanic cell in which the
anode is the less corrosion resistant metal than
the cathode
 Galvanic corrosion can be predicted by using the
electromotive force (emf) or standard potential
series for metal reduction listed in Table at the next
slide

 In selecting two metals or two alloys for a galvanic

coupling, both metals should have similar potentials
or be close to each other in the series in order to
suppress galvanic corrosion
Galvanic coupling can be used for cathodic
protection purposes
Other types of galvanic coupling are batteries
and fuel cells
• Lithium Ambient-Temperature Batteries
(LAMBS)
• Lead-Acid Battery
• Dry-Cell Battery
• Sintered Nickel Electrode in Alkaline Batteries
 MICROSTRUCTURAL EFFECTS
A mechanically deformed metal or alloy
can experience galvanic corrosion due to
differences in atomic plane distortion and a
high dislocation density
• Improper heat treatment can cause nonuniform
microstructure and therefore, galvanic-phase
corrosion is enhanced in corrosive media
• Galvanic corrosion can occur in a polycrystalline
alloys, such as pearlitic steels, due to differences
in microstructural phases
• In this case, pearlite consists of ferrite and
cementite and when it is etched with a mild acid,
which is the electrolyte, galvanic microcells
between ferrite (cathode) and cementite (anode)
are generated. Consequently, pearlite is revealed
as dark cementite andwhite ferrite.
 LOCALIZED CORROSION
This term implies that specific parts of an
exposed surface area corrodes in a suitable
electrolyte. This form of corrosion is more
difficult to control than general corrosion.
• Crevice Corrosion which is associated with a
stagnant electrolyte such as dirt, corrosion
product, sand, etc. It occurs on a metal/alloy
surface holes,underneath a gasket, lap joints
under bolts, under rivet heads.
• Filiform Corrosion is basically a special type of crevice
corrosion, which occurs under a protective film. It is
common on food and beverage cans being exposed to
the atmosphere.
• Pitting Corrosion is an extremely localized corrosion
mechanism that causes destructive pits.
• Oral Corrosion occurs on dental alloys exposed to
saliva.
• Biological Corrosion due to fouling organisms non-
uniformly adhered on steel in marine environments.
• Selective Leaching Corrosion is a metal removal
process from the base alloy matrix, such as
dezincification ( Zn is removed) in Cu-Zn alloys and
graphitization (Fe is removed) in cast irons.
 PITTING CORROSION
• This form of corrosion is extremely localized and
it manifests itself as holes on a metal surface.
• The initial formation of pits is difficult to detect
due to the small size, but it requires a prolong
time for visual detection.
• This form of corrosion can be found on aluminum
and its alloys and automobile chromium-plated
bumpers or body coated (painted) parts due to
film/coating breakdown at isolated surface sites.
• Pits vary in shape, but are very small surface
holes due to the extremely localized anodic
reaction sites
• The initiation of pits occurs at localized sites
d  t n

on a metal surface defects, which may be due

where :  and n are constants, t is time

to coating failure, mechanical discontinuities

or microstructural phase heterogeneities such
as secondary phases.
• The depth of pits can be found: d =λtn