The Anodic Behaviour of Iron in Alkaline Chlorine Solutions.

The work described in this thesis is based on an investigation into the anodic behaviour of iron in alkaline chloride solutions. Simultaneous polarisation and chloride adsorption measurements have been made on iron samples in solutions containing sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride. This has been possible by use of a radiochemical technique, developed during the course of this work, for the chloride adsorption measurements. The occurrence of corrosion as a function of iron potential and solution composition has been studied. Also, the existence of a time interval, between potential application and onset of corrosion, and the variation of this interval with potential has been established. A rapid corrosion potential has been defined and its approximate variation with solution composition determined and found to be in accordance with a theory proposed by Hoar for the effect of chloride ions on the corrosion of iron. Chloride adsorption determinations have been carried out at potentials more anodic than the rapid corrosion potential and the correlation between chloride adsorption and quantity of electricity passed during corrosion examined. Some conclusions have been drawn regarding the limitations of the method of simultaneous chloride adsorption measurement and regarding the high values of chloride adsorption obtained