Name: Adib Hafifi, Josh Walters & Lucas Isaac

Course: Materials Science and Engineering

Teacher: Dr. Jason Connor

Assignment 4
Pitting Corrosion
1)

2) This picture was token inside the University of Adelaide and the
environment where the example was found is exposed by sun, air and
humidity.
3) This example evidences wide pits in the surface of the material. Some
possibilities are viable for this type of corrosion in this environment.
Considering that its material is an unknown alloy, the mechanism is
explained by the corrosion at areas where the protective surface film is
damaged or because of inclusions inside its structure. The dissolution of the
passive film creates a acidified solution by hydrolysis of the dissolving metal
cations, in which pit growth can occur. The damage in the surface film
might be explained by mechanical damage or the breakdown of the passive
film by chemical attack by acids, microbial activity or water contaminated
by aggressive chemical species. The failure of the passive film allows the
oxidation of the metal at the anode. On the other hand, the chemical
reduction of the oxygen will occur at the cathode. Thus, it creates the
possibility for reaction by metallic cations and water, which produce

Name: Adib Hafifi, Josh Walters & Lucas Isaac

Course: Materials Science and Engineering
Teacher: Dr. Jason Connor
hydroxide and hydrogen ion. Finally, the pH increases and the metal is
attacked again and the corrosion process will repeat.
4) To prevent the pitting corrosion, the alternatives are select the proper
material assuming the environmental conditions. For example, utilise highly
resistant alloys for repair and replacement. Other ways are use effective
coatings and utilise cathodic protection, which prevents corrosion by
converting the anodic sites on the metal surface to cathodic sites.
5) The example does not show risks because it is a detail and does not
have functions.
Galvanic Corrosion
1)

2) This picture was token in North Adelaide and the environment where the
example was found is exposed by sun, air and humidity.
3) This example shows an example of galvanic corrosion. This type of
corrosion occurs when two different materials are in contact and one shows
smaller area than other. In this case, the nut has the smaller area length if
compared with the screw. Thus, according to the kinetics theory, the
smaller the area the greater the current density, consequently, the faster
the ratio of corrosion in this material. However, this corrosion will occur if
the material with lower area shows smaller reduction potential than the
nobler material. The difference of potential between this materials will allow
the attack on the anode, which will corrode and the ions will migrate to the
cathode. The presence of an electrolyte is essential to allow the ions
migration.

Name: Adib Hafifi, Josh Walters & Lucas Isaac

Course: Materials Science and Engineering
Teacher: Dr. Jason Connor
4) To prevent the galvanic corrosion in this example, an insulated material
should be applied between the surface of these materials to avoid ions
migration. Other ways of protection include the selection of materials with
similar corrosion potentials, applying coatings to both materials and
installing a sacrificial anode..
5) The nut could suffer a fracture if submitted by mechanical efforts and the
screw probably could undock.