Corrosion and Oxidation Studied by Surface Analytical Methods

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This research project, supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, focusses on the detailed mechanisms of corrosion of iron and aluminum based materials. A variety of surface analytical probes are brought to bear on the atomic level characterization of corrosion films, especially X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), analytical electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. These methods are used to identify reaction intermediates, and to suggest mechanisms for corrosion of these materials. The use of valence band XPS, in combination with electronic structure calculations to identify specific surface species, provides a unique and very powerful tool for the identification of intermediates and elucidation of mechanisms in these studies. A better understanding of corrosion mechanisms and processes is crucial to the mitigation of corrosion, which is of serious environmental and economic concern. The use of electron spectroscopic tools to identify and characterize corrosion products and processes is the focus of this research project. Corrosion of iron and aluminum based materials is a serious technological problem, impacting the quality of the civil infrastructure and the environment in many ways. A clear understanding of the process of corrosion would be very useful in designing strategies for corrosion inhibition and mitigation.