Effect of an alternating electric field on the atmospheric corrosion behaviour of copper under a thin electrolyte layer

Abstract The effect of an alternating electric field (AEF) on the atmospheric corrosion behaviour of copper under a thin electrolyte layer (TEL) was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and SEM/EDS analyses. Results indicate that the corrosion rate of copper increases with increased AEF amplitude and frequency. Furthermore, copper corrosion is more severe under a square-wave AEF than under a sinusoidal AEF. The increase in copper corrosion can be due to the damage inflicted by AEF to the oxide film on the copper surface. With the AEF, copper corrosion under a TEL significantly differs from that in bulk solution.