Tutorial on Cyclic Potentiodynamic Polarization Technique

Abstract The cyclic potentiodynamic polarization technique provides a reasonable, rapid method for qualitatively predicting the propensity of an alloy to suffer localized corrosion in the form of pitting and crevice corrosion. Better and more accurate techniques are available for estimating general corrosion rates. This paper outlines the features that have been found useful for interpreting the polarization scan along with an example of how such an interpretation might be made. The paper follows with a discussion of some of the effects that uncompensated solution resistance, inappropriate scan rate, and improper point of scan reversal can have on the polarization scan features and how these effects might influence the interpretation.