Characterization of corrosion of X70 pipeline steel in thin electrolyte layer under disbonded coating by scanning Kelvin probe

Scanning Kelvin probe technique was used to characterize the electrochemical corrosion behavior of X70 steel in a thin layer of near-neutral pH and high pH solutions, respectively. Results demonstrate that passivity can be developed on steel in the near-neutral pH solution layer as thin as 60 μm, which is attributed to the fact that Fe²⁺ concentration in aqueous phase could reach saturation in the thin solution layer. The solubility of FeCO₃ is reached to drop out of solution as a precipitate. With the increase of solution layer thickness, it becomes more difficult for Fe²⁺ concentration to reach saturation. Consequently, the passivity cannot be maintained, and the steel shows an active dissolution state. Anodic dissolution rate of steel increases with the immersion time. The electrochemical polarization behavior of X70 steel in high pH solution is approximately independent of the solution layer thickness and immersion time. In thin solution layer, diffusion and reduction of oxygen dominate the cathodic process, as demonstrated by the presence of cathodic limiting diffusive current. In the bulk solution, the absence of limiting diffusive current density in cathodic polarization curve indicates that the main cathodic reaction is reduction of H₂CO₃ and , and the formed film is thus mainly FeCO₃.