Combined surface analytical and electrochemical studies for corrosion research

The application of several surface analytical methods in addition to electrochemical studies for corrosion research is described. Passivity of metals is taken as an example to demonstrate the advantages and limits of different in situ and ex situ methods. After a short survey of the surface analytical tools a short introduction to the passivity of metals is given. The major part of this work describes specific systems and how surface analysis provides a deeper understanding for the corrosion mechanisms and the nature of the passive layers. Fe, Cr, Fe/Cr alloys, Cu and Cu/Al alloys are discussed as examples. This review demonstrates that a combined application of a variety of methods leads to a mutual confirmation of the data and to a reliable explanation by models. For comparative results for the different studies a careful and sometimes a very difficult specimen pretreatment is a necessary requirement and may help to overcome controversial points of view.