Electrochemical Corrosion Assessment of Copper Alloys

Electrochemical corrosion assessment of copper alloys encompasses a suite of techniques aimed at quantifying and elucidating the mechanisms by which these materials degrade in various environments. Copper alloys, including bronzes and brasses, are subject to complex corrosion phenomena driven by alloy composition, microstructure and environmental factors such as chloride concentration, humidity and pollutants. Key processes include galvanic coupling between microstructural phases, formation and breakdown of protective oxide films and localized attack in the form of pitting or intergranular corrosion. Electrochemical methods—potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning probe techniques—provide quantitative metrics (corrosion current density, impedance spectra, galvanic potentials) and spatially resolved insights into surface reactivity. By combining laboratory‐based measurements with field evaluations, researchers can predict service life, design more resistant alloys and optimise protective treatments. These approaches are essential for applications ranging from marine infrastructure and electronic components to conservation of cultural heritage, where both functional performance and long-term stability are paramount.

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Electrochemical Corrosion Assessment of Copper Alloys publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrochemical corrosion assessment of copper alloys across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Galvanic couple: An electrochemical cell formed between two dissimilar metal phases or alloys, leading to accelerated corrosion of the anodic component.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS): A technique that applies a small AC perturbation to measure frequency-dependent impedance, revealing information on film properties and charge transfer kinetics.

Potentiodynamic polarization: A method in which electrode potential is swept at a constant rate to record current-potential behaviour, used to determine corrosion potential and current density.

Scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM): A high-resolution scanning probe technique for mapping surface potential differences, useful in locating anodic and cathodic sites on alloys.

Passivation: The formation of a thin, protective oxide or hydroxide film on a metal surface that reduces its corrosion rate.

References

1. Mechanism of corrosion behavior between Pb-rich phase and Cu-rich structure of high Sn–Pb bronze alloy in neutral salt spray environment. Journal of Materials Research and Technology (2024).
2. The impact of urban rain on the changes of bare and artificially patinated bronze during 9-year exposure. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2024).
3. Corrosion Behaviors of Artificial Chloride Patina for Studying Bronze Sculpture Corrosion in Marine Environments. Coatings (2023).
4. EIS and microstructural characterization of artificial nitrate patina layers produced at room temperature on copper and bronze. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society (2007).
5. Artificial Patination of Copper and Copper Alloys in Wet Atmosphere with Increased Content of SO2. Coatings (2019).