Statistical analysis of electrochemical noise records at aluminium corrosion

Abstract

Given that the experimental signals obtained in an electrochemical noise measurement, ENM, are recorded over a discrete time period, the most direct way of analising them will be in the time domain resorting to statistical methods. These can be classified into two groups according to use: those which attempt to quantify the degree of the corrosion process (standard deviations, statistical power); and those which attempt to provide information on the corrosion mechanism (based on the assumption that the shape of the time records is a reflection of itself). Among the later the use of the average, the skewness and the kurtosis of the signals or the pitting index can be pointed out as being able to reflect the changes in the corrosion mechanism. Noise resistance stands out above all these parameters. In this work has undertaken the statistical treatment of ENM data obtained by subjecting aluminium to three electrolytes that provoke several types of corrosion in it: passivity, pitting corrosion and generalized corrosion.