Studies on Overvoltage

Abstract

This paper is a study of the influence on cathode charge curves, for platinized platinum cathodes in 2 N H2SO4, of conditions that alter the hydrogen concentration on the solution side of the electrode-electrolyte interface. The purpose is to secure information relative to a theory of polarization potential proposed in a previous paper by the senior author. The results show definitely that the cathode potential, both below and above the so-called reversible value, can be materially altered for a given current density by conditions on the solution side of the interface which influence the rate of diffusion of hydrogen away from or to the interface. The changes produced are all such as were expected on the basis of the proposed theory. * This paper constitutes a portion of the dissertation submitted by Myron B. Towns to the Faculty of the Horace tI. Raekham School of Graduate Studies, University of Michigan, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the ]Ph.D. degree. Manuscript

The Oxygen Concentration Cell as a Factor in the Localized Corrosion of Metals

“…Denison (28) designed a laboratory soil corrosion cell in which a potential difference was developed by differential aeration between two electrodes of the same material separated by moist soil as the electrolyte. Cells constructed on this principle have been used to measure the rate of corrosion of metals and alloys for correlation with the rate of corrosion of specimens in field tests, and with the rate of corrosion of a pipe-line system (29)(30)(31)(32). A modification of the cell has been described by Schwerdtfeger (33).…”