Foundations of Corrosion Prediction with Pourbaix Diagrams

Corrosion is a costly and pervasive problem across many industries. Understanding the fundamental electrochemical principles that govern material degradation is essential for effective mitigation and design. This course provides a foundational understanding of Pourbaix diagrams (Potential-pH diagrams), the indispensable tool used by material scientists and engineers to predict corrosion risk. By the end, you will be able to interpret these diagrams to determine the stability of metals and alloys under various environmental conditions. What you'll learn: * Understand the core electrochemical principles, including the Nernst equation and standard electrode potentials, that define corrosion processes. * Construct simplified Pourbaix diagrams for common metal-water systems by calculating the equilibrium lines for various reactions. * Interpret the three fundamental stability regions—corrosion, immunity, and passivity—and their practical implications for material selection. * Apply Pourbaix diagrams to predict how changes in pH and potential affect the corrosion rate of a material. * Analyze the limitations of standard Pourbaix diagrams and understand how factors like temperature and ion concentration influence stability boundaries. The course begins with an introduction to electrochemical thermodynamics and kinetics. You will then proceed step-by-step through the calculation and graphical plotting required to construct a full Potential-pH diagram, followed by practical exercises in reading and applying the results to real-world scenarios. This course is designed for absolute beginners in materials science, chemical engineering, and electrochemistry. No prior knowledge of corrosion theory or advanced thermodynamics is required. Start practicing the foundational skill of electrochemical corrosion prediction today.