MÖSBAUER INVESTIGATION OF CORROSION PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS

Abstract
The qualitative and quantitative Mössbauer spectroscopic phase analysis is a very useful tool for investigating corrosion processes and products. Its nondestructive character as well as the fact that also amorphous products can be studied, are its most important advantages as compared with other appropriate methods, as e.g. Röntgen diffraction. Because of the great technical importance, the corrosion of iron and steel will be considered in some detail. By use of a simple model of atmospheric rusting, a survey will be given, to which of the stages of the corrosion process the different Mössbauer techniques (transmission, gamma scattering, conversion electron detection) can be applied. Some examples concerning problems important from a technical point of view will demonstrate successful applications of Mössbauer spectroscopy : The influence of climate factors on atmospheric rusting, the time dependent formation of rust beneath a protective coating, the effect of aggressive media and of corrosion inhibiting treatments, and the corrosion by lubricants under the influence of friction.