The Corrosion Laboratory allows monitoring and evaluation of materials corrosion resistance. The Laboratory is equipped with a CO-FO-ME-GRA condensation chamber, an IPS potentiostat and a CORTEST device designed to monitor corrosion of materials under sstress.
The CO-FO-ME-GRA condensation chamber enables accelerated corrosion tests to be carried out in a humid and saline environment with a neutral pH, so called neutral salt spray test. The device enables the accelerated corrosion tests in compliance with the ISO 11503, ISO 1456, ISO 3768, ISO 3769, ISO 3770, ISO 4541, ISO 6270 and ISO 7253 Standards. The device also meets the requirements of the selected DIN and ASTM Standards, e.g. ASTM B117, ASTM B287, ASTM B368 and DIN 40046, DIN 50021, DIN 50907, DIN 50958 and others. Assessment of the corrosion test is performed by visual inspection. Evaluation of the overall test is possible by assessing the surface of corrosion attack or by weighing the mass loss using precise laboratory balances of Mettler Toledo.
The Laboratory also comprises a PGU 10 V-1A-IMP-S potentiostat/galvanostat which enables electrochemical corrosion tests according to the STN EN ISO 17475 Standard. The Laboratory devices enable monitoring the electro-chemical parameters of metal materials, i.e., potentio-dynamic, potentio-static and galvano-static dependencies which are used to determine corrosion rate and identify the activity/passivity areas. Electrochemical impedance spectrometry is also available to determine capacity of an electric bilayer. Corrosion resistance can be also determined volumetrically by monitoring the evolution of hydrogen released during the corrosion of low-noble metals (Mg, Al) in the aquatic environment. In the course of experiments, it is possible to control the temperature and chemical composition of the electrolyte. The Laboratory is equipped with a flow thermostat, pH meter, conductometer and the equipment for preparation of deionized water. A direct current source is also available to carry out simple electrochemical surface treatments, e.g. nickel plating.
The CORTEST device allows carrying out stress corrosion cracking tests in a corrosive environment of fluids in the range from the room temperature to 300 ° C, while applying a versatile pressure up to the maximum of 20 MPa. During the test, a circular or rectangular specimen is subjected to slow strain rate test (SST) mode or the mode of constant stress or elongation. The device also allows cyclic loading in the tensile region with a different shape of the load force course.