A Theoretical Model for Metal Corrosion Degradation

Figure 1

Schematic drawing of corrosion metal degradation under an electrolyte solution. Atoms in metal films are shown in yellow and metal atoms in red. If we assume that 𝜀^𝑓₀=𝜀^𝑀₀, then the energy to move atom in metal film is to be same as energy needing to move atom in metal. The lateral force to move atom for Cu was measured 𝐹=17±3𝑝𝑁 [17] and 𝑥=300pm, then approximate energy per atom was measured 𝐸=𝐹⋅𝑥=5.1⋅10⁻²²J; recalculating it per mol of atom we will have 𝜀^𝑓₀=𝜀^𝑀₀≈3⋅10²J⋅(mol)⁻¹. 𝜀^𝑓₀=𝜀^𝑀₀≈5.1⋅10⁻²²J (a) per atom; and 𝜀^𝑓₀=𝜀^𝑀₀≈3⋅10²J⋅(mol)⁻¹ (b) per mol number of atoms. We use (1) as an estimation as we are calculating everything on number of atoms or on per atom.