Mössbauer study of the corrosion products of iron

Investigations of the possible use of Mössbauer measurements for the analysis of the corrosion products of iron are reported. The Mössbauer spectrum was measured at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures on two samples produced by different corrosion procedures. The isomeric shift, quadrupole splitting and magnetic splitting observed in the spectra yield information on the chemical composition. In this way, the chemical forms of the compounds in the samples could be established. The magnetic properties, revealed by the spectra taken at different temperatures, permitted the identification of the polymorphous modifications. The rust produced in air saturated with water vapour was found to consist of 50% (w/w) Fe₂O₃,～40% γ-FeOOH, and ～10% β-FeOOH, while the rust produced by periodical immersion in saturated calcium chloride solution is composed of about equal amounts of β-FeOOH and γ-FeOOH. These findings have been confirmed by the thermoanalytical curves of the samples. The Mössbauer effect presents a convenient method for the investigation of the corrosion products of iron.