On the mechanism initiating bursting oscillatory patterns during the pitting corrosion of a passive rotating iron-disc electrode in halide-containing sulphuric acid solutions

Bursting current oscillations (trains of current spikes interrupted by a steady-state passive current) were found to occur during the iron anodic polarization in halide-containing sulphuric acid solutions. These oscillations occur at potentials located within a partially passive state of the iron. The partially passive state appears at potentials more positive than the unstable passive-active transition region of the current-potential curve of the Fe|2 M H₂SO₄ system for halide concentrations approximately ranged between 20 and 50 mM. The bursting oscillations appear after a certain induction period which ranged from minutes to several hours. Experiments were conducted in which an external resistance was connected in series between the ground and the working electrode for the Fe|2 M H₂SO₄ + 30 mM Br⁻ system. The results demonstrate that the appearance of oscillations is closely related to an IR-drop mechanism operating during the pitting corrosion of Fe induced by halides. When an appropriate value of the external resistance was imposed in the system the induction period was entirely eliminated. Bursting oscillations appear at once after setting the potential at the desired value. These results provide strong evidence that during the anodic electrodissolution of iron in halide-containing sulphuric acid solutions bursting current oscillations will be induced even though the electrode seems to be in the partially passive state. This is expected to occur after the passage of an induction period during which the system acquires a critical value of the ohmic potential drop. Received: 20 October 1997 / Accepted: 2 January 1998