Analysis of Electrochemical Noise from Metastable Pitting in Aluminum, Aged Al-2%Cu, and AA 2024-T3

The authors compare methods of analyzing electrochemical current (ECN) and potential (EPN) noise data associated with metastable pitting and the transition from metastable to stable pitting. Various analysis methods were applied to electrochemical noise data associated with metastable pit events on aluminum, aged Al-2%Cu, and AA 2024-T3 ST. Two experimental approaches were used. High-purity Al, roughly simulating copper-depleted grain boundary zones in aged Al-Cu alloys, was potentiostatically polarized so that current spikes associated with individual pitting events could be analyzed. Second, the coupling current between nominally identical galvanically coupled Al, aged Al-2%Cu, and AA 2024-T3 ST electrodes was recorded in conjunction with couple potential using a saturated calomel reference electrode. Pit stabilization occurred when individual pits exceeded a threshold of I{sub pit}/r{sub pit} > 10{sup {minus}2} A/cm at all times during pit growth as established from potentiostatic measurements. The magnitude of this ratio is linked directly to the concentration of the aggressive solution within pits. Two related statistical pit stabilization factors (I{sub rms}/r{sub pit total} from ECN data and the mean of (I{sub peak}-I{sub ox})/r{sub pit} values from each pit current spike) were obtained from galvanic ECN data containing a large number of pit current spikes. These parameters provided amore » better indication of the transition to stable pitting than the pitting index or noise resistance but also had shortcomings. Spectral analysis using current and potential spectral power density (SPD) data provided qualitative information on pit susceptibility. However, the transition to stable pitting could not be accurately defined because of a lack of information on pit sizes in spectral data.« less