Sequencer System For Data Collection Of
Corrosion Specimens (United States Patent Application 20150308979 King Fahd University
Of Petroleum And Minerals)
October 29, 2015 King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals
Applicant: King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi
Arabia
Abstract
The
sequencer system for corrosion data collection of specimens includes a
container for holding a plurality of specimens to be tested. During testing,
the container holds a solution bath. A reference electrode and a counter
electrode are coupled to a potentiostat, both electrodes being operationally
disposed inside the container. A sequencer is connected to each specimen via a
working electrode line. The sequencer operates in concert with the potentiostat
to switch between a tested specimen and a subsequent specimen to be tested
during a pause phase between each polarization cycle of the potentiostat. A
computer is coupled to the potentiostat and the sequencer, and a program
controls synchronized operations between the potentiostat and the sequencer.
The program also permits automatic data collection for each of the specimens.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to monitoring and testing systems, and particularly
to a sequencer system for data collection of corrosion specimens that provides
serial testing of a plurality of specimens in a single session.
[0005] 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0006] Metallic corrosion is an electro-chemical process in which a metal loses
mass at its surface due to formation of oxides. The time rate of the metal per
unit of surface area defines the metallic corrosion rate. Given the economic
and social importance of corrosion of reinforced concrete (R-C) structures, and
since predictions of their residual service life and monitoring and control of
the effectiveness of a chosen corrosion protective measures generally require a
method for measuring the rate of corrosion, reliable and fast detection of
corrosion and the evaluation of its rate have attracted the interest of
researchers. Gravimetric weight loss technique is a simple but the most
reliable method established for the study of metallic corrosion. However, due
to its time consuming and destructive nature, it is not applicable for the
assessment of real R-C structures. Nevertheless, it remains a reliable
reference method for verification of the validity of other techniques, such as
electrochemical methods.
[0007] Non-destructive but indirect methods, such as the measurement of
corrosion potential (E.sub.corr) and concrete resistivity, have been developed
for the detection of corrosion in steel reinforcement bars or rebars. These
methods, however, provide only qualitative, or at best, semi-quantitative
information. Electrochemical methods, which offer non-destructive detection and
quantitative measurement of corrosion rate in steel-concrete systems, are the
most widely applied methods for the study of rebar corrosion in recent times.
Some popular electrochemical methods include linear polarization or
polarization resistance (R.sub.p), coulostatic, electrochemical noise,
electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) or A.C. impedance methods. Out of
these techniques, the most widely used method for quantitatively assessing the
corrosion kinetics of metallic materials, both on-site and in the laboratory,
is the polarization resistance (R.sub.p) method.
[0008] Many testing devices have been developed employing the polarization
resistance method. These devices automate potential sweep and data gathering
processes in order to obtain the corrosion rate of a rebar embedded in concrete
with minimal effort. This has made in-situ assessment and lab studies on rebar
corrosion rates very easy. However, these devices tend to be very expensive,
and they are typically designed for testing a single specimen at a time. In
laboratories where hundreds of specimens must be tested for research,
development, and performance verification works, the prospect can be daunting,
repetitious, and overly time-consuming. Consider for example that a typical
testing interval lasts for about ten minutes per specimen, in which a lab
technician prepares the specimen to be tested, runs the test, and manually
notes the results thereof. It can be seen that this process increases the
potential for human error. Thus, many reported inconsistencies applying the
same electrochemical technique in varying conditions, particularly in passive
systems, may result from incorrect application of the particular
electrochemical technique in question, rather than the technique itself being
unable to capture the behavior of the steel-concrete system.
[0009] Thus, a sequencer system for data collection of a plurality of corrosion
specimens solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The sequencer system for data collection of corrosion specimens includes
a container for holding a plurality of specimens to be tested, and during
testing, the container holds a solution bath. A reference electrode and a counter
electrode are coupled to a potentiostat, both electrodes being operationally
disposed inside the container. A sequencer is connected to each specimen via a
working electrode line. The sequencer operates in concert with the potentiostat
to switch between a tested specimen and a subsequent specimen to be tested
during a pause phase between each polarization cycle of the potentiostat. A
computer is coupled to the potentiostat and the sequencer, and a program
controls synchronized operations between the potentiostat and the sequencer.
The program also permits automatic data collection for each specimen.
[0011] These and other features of the present invention will become readily
apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Free Full Text Source: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=22&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=corrosion.TTL.&OS=TTL/corrosion&RS=TTL/corrosion
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