A method for the early detection of electrochemical corrosion and coating degradation utilizing an inexpensive, in situ electrochemical metallic sensor for sensing coating and material degradation, particularly for materials such as aluminum 2024-T3, 7075, 6061, cold rolled steel samples, and coated metal structures such as automobiles, bridges, aircraft, and ships has been developed. The sensor utilizes AC Impedance or Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS） to acquire a precise, low-frequency impedance signature and is comprised of conductive ink deposited on a coating in the shape of the outline of a quadrilateral or other configuration. The resulting apparatus is comprised of a coated, metallic coupon used as a sensor, while a metallic grid electrode is deposited onto the steel coupon, thereby eliminating the need for a remote or counter electrode （i.e., reduction from a traditional, three-electrode system to a two-electrode system）。 Relying on the relatively lower impedance of the metallic grid electrode versus the coated metal, the electrodes are able to demonstrate a lower, interfacial impedance than the three-electrode testing system. This two-electrode approach eliminates the need for an electrolyte use in conventional, three-electrode AC Impedance testing and enables in-situ analyses of metallic and/or coating systems.

 

　　

　　一種用于電化學腐蝕和涂層劣化早期檢測方法，用于檢測涂層和材料的降解，特別是對于材料，如鋁2024-T3,7075,6061,冷軋鋼試樣，并利用一種廉價的，原位電化學傳感器對涂覆金屬結構，例如汽車，橋梁，飛機，船舶等的檢測方法已被開發出來。該傳感器利用交流阻抗或電化學阻抗譜（EIS），以獲得一個精確的，低頻率的阻抗信號，并包括沉積在涂層中的四邊形或其它結構的輪廓的形狀上的導電性涂料。所得到的裝置包括涂覆，金屬試片作為傳感器，金屬柵電極沉積在鋼試樣，從而省去了一個遠程或反電極（即，從傳統的三電極系統還原到雙電極系統）。由于金屬柵電極相對于涂層金屬相對較低的阻抗，電極是能夠表現比三電極測試系統更低的界面阻抗。