Course content

Thermodynamic principles for surfaces and corrosion: Electrochemical corrosion theory, potential - pH diagram, surface free energy, surface tension, high temperature oxidation.

Surfaces: Atomic structure of surfaces. Oxides and hydroxides on materials. Acidic and basic groups. Potential of zero charge and pH. Hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. Wetting. Adsorption from gas and liquid phase. Biofouling.

Corrosion kinetics: Faraday's law, mass loss, polarisation curves, mixed potential theory, passivity, effect of mass transfer, galvanic coupling. Corrosion forms, causes and propagation of corrosion. Uniform and localised corrosion. Effect of metallurgical, mechanical, microbiological and environmental factors. Quantitative estimation of corrosion rates. Description of mechanisms for types of corrosion for different metal and environment combinations, with special focus on important structural materials.

Application in corrosion protection: Electrochemical methods, corrosion inhibitors, surface treatment, coatings. Test methods. Measurement and monitoring of corrosion. Corrosion Management including inspection.

Learning outcome

The course uses applications in corrosion and corrosion protection to introduce several concepts that are important in a number of fields where materials interact with an environment through their surfaces. The course covers the theoretical background for various corrosion phenomena, forms and protection techniques, with practical examples. The course also shows examples of applications of the same principles in catalysis, biology and metal production, among other things.

Based on the physical-chemical theoretical background, students should be able to assess whether corrosion will occur or not for a specified material or combination of materials in a specified environment. Students should be able to deduce atomic surface structure for important sections through crystal structure in important materials. Students should be able to explain the characteristics of hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces and identify these experimentally. Students should be able to explain initiation and propagation in important forms of corrosion. In cases where corrosion may occur in a given material/environment combination, students should be able to predict the likely form of corrosion, estimate the corrosion rate and suggest possible protection methods with regard to safety, economy and the environment. Protective methods include adsorption of corrosion inhibitors, use of coatings, galvanic protection, etc. The student shall be able to plan and carry out individual laboratory experiments to estimate the corrosion rate using different methods for a given material in a given environment, and estimate the effect of a given protection method. In addition, the student should be able to conduct simple failure analysis and select suitable corrosion monitoring methods. The students shall be able to explain the role of corrosion protection for sustainable materials use.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, research-based and applied problem sets, laboratory work and a semester project on corrosion case studies. Problem sets and laboratory work require basic use of data analysis tools, such as plotting programs. Solutions to selected problem sets and assignments (including projects) and lab tasks have to be found satisfactory to qualify for the final examination.

Estimated work load is ca. 200 hours during the semester.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises
• Laboratory work

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Inorganic chemistry

Required previous knowledge

TMT4111 - General chemistry, IMAK1001 - General Chemistry for Engineers or equivalent

Course materials

Peter Atkins, Julio de Paula, and James Keeler: Atkins' Physical Chemistry, Current edition, Oxford University Press

Kemal Nisancioglu, Andreas Erbe: Corrosion Basics and Engineering, Compendium, 1994-2025

Selected chapters on individual topics

Elective:

Einar Bardal: Korrosjon og korrosjonsvern, Fagbokforlaget, 1994 (Norwegian)

Dieter Landolt: Corrosion and Surface Chemistry of Metals, EPFL Press, 2007 (Specialised and advanced)