MICROELECTRODES IN CORROSION STUDIES: ELECTRODISSOLUTION AND CORROSION OF COPPER IN H₂O₂/O. 1N HCL.

Other investigations of metal deposition and dissolution have utilized microelectrodes on an inert substrate, but the anodic dissolution of bulk metal superimposed on a second (cathodic) process, is reported here for the first time. It is proposed that the study of such bulk metal electrodes simulates real corrosion situations. It is shown that the electrochemical behavior of copper microelectrodes exhibit the property of enhanced mass transport due to spherical diffusion. A qualitative comparison with RDE studies reveals that mass transport equivalent to rotation rates of more than 4000 rpm takes place at the 25 mu m Cu microelectrode.