Conducting polyaniline (Pani) was prepared in the presence of methane sulfonic acid (MeSA) as dopant by chemical oxidative polymerization. The Pani-MeSA polymer was characterized by FT-IR, UV-vis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and impedance spectroscopy. The polyrner was dispersed in polyvinylacetate and coated oil carbon steel samples by a dipping method. The electrochemical behavior and anticorrosion properties of the coating, oil carbon steel in 3% NaCl were investigated using Open-circuit Potential (OCP) versus time of exposure, and electrochemical techniques including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization and cyclic voltammetry (CV). During initial exposure, the OCP dropped about 0.35 V and the interfacial resistance increased several times, indicating I certain reduction of the polymer and oxidation of the steel surface. Later the OCP shifted to the noble direction and remained at a stable value during the exposure up to 60 days. The EIS monitoring also revealed the initial change and later stabilization of the coating. The stable high OCP and low coating impedance Suggest that the conducting polymer maintains its oxidative state and provides corrosion protection for carbon steel through out the investigated period. The polarization curves and CV show that the conducting polymer coating induces a passive-like behavior and greatly reduces the corrosion of carbon steel.

Tribological properties mapping is a new technique that extracts friction coefficient and adhesion maps obtained from lateral atomic force microscope (LAFM) images. By imaging the surface systematically as a function of load, a series of images can be tiled, and pixelwise fitted to a modified Amontons' Law to obtain friction coefficient and adhesion maps. This removes the ambiguity of friction contrast in LAFM imaging which can be a function of the load used for imaging. In ambient laboratory, air and tetradecane, a sample of Vancron(A (R))40, commercial powder metallurgical tool alloy containing nitrogen, have been scanned using a standard silicon cantilever in order to obtain tribological data. The tribological properties mapping provides unique information regarding the heterogeneous alloy microstructure as well as shedding light on the tribological behavior of the alloy.

The effect of secondary hardening of tempered AISI 420 martensitic stainless steel on the corrosion behavior in aqueous 0.01 M NaCl has been studied, in-situ, using atomic force microscopy (AFM) to monitor real-time localized corrosion processes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the presence of undissolved and secondary carbides (Cr23C6, Cr7C3, Cr3C2, Cr3C, Cr2C, and CrC) as well as retained austenite, all finely dispersed in the tempered martensitic matrix. Electrochemical measurements, consisted of monitoring of the open-circuit potential vs. time and cyclic polarization in 0.01 M NaCl solution, were performed to evaluate the passivity and its breakdown, and it was seen that initiation sites for localized corrosion were predominantly peripheral sites of carbides. In-situ AFM measurements revealed that there was a sequence for localized corrosion in which the neighboring matrix next to secondary carbides dissolved first, followed by corrosive attack on regions adjacent to undissolved carbides. Tempering at 500◦C reduced the corrosion resistance and the ability to passivate in comparison to tempering at 250◦C.

In this work, the corrosion behavior of tempered AISI 420 martensitic stainless steel (MSS) was studied by in-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) in 0.1M NaCl and correlated with the microstructure. Thermocalc simulation, dilatometry, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were performed to investigate phase transformation which showed the formation of M3C, M7C3, and M23C6 type of carbides and also retained austenite. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and AFM characterization revealed undissolved carbides and tempering carbides in the martensitic matrix. Volta potential mapping measured by scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM) indicated higher electrochemical (practical) nobility of the carbides with respect to the martensitic matrix whereas regions adjacent to carbides showed lower nobilities due to chromium depletion. Open circuit potential and cyclic potentiodynamic polarization measurements showed metastable corrosion activities associated with a weak passive behavior and a risk for localized corrosion along certain carbide boundaries. In-situ AFM measurements revealed selective dissolution of certain carbide interphases and martensitic inter-lath regions indicating higher propensity to localized corrosion.

The resistance to environment-assisted cracking (EAC) of AISI 420 martensitic stainless steel (MSS) was investigated in 0.3 M NaCl solution (room temperature) at constant loads for 30 days. The steel tempered at 250 degrees C was superior to the 500 degrees C-temper, which showed corrosion pits favouring cracking. The fracture surface showed faceted grains, cleavage, striations, and inter- and transgranular cracks, suggesting a mixed stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and hydrogen embrittlement (HE) mechanism as the cause for EAC. Finite element modelling (FEM) indicated strain/stress localization at the mouth of deep pits and at the wall of shallow pits, displaying the favoured locations for pit-to-crack transition.

We present results from the anodization of an aluminum single crystal [Al(111)] and an aluminum alloy [Al 6060] studied by in situ x-ray reflectivity, in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and ex situ scanning electron microscopy. For both samples, a linear increase of oxide film thickness with increasing anodization voltage was found. However, the slope is much higher in the single crystal case, and the break-up of the oxide film grown on the alloy occurs at a lower anodization potential than on the single crystal. The reasons for these observations are discussed as are the measured differences observed for x-ray reflectivity and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

The influence of precipitate carbides on dissolution tendency and behavior of a biomedical CoCrMo alloy was investigated at microscopic scale. SEM/EDS, TEM/EDS and XRD were performed to characterize crystallographic structure and composition of different precipitate carbides. Scanning Kelvin probe force microscope (SKPFM) was used to evaluate relative nobility of the carbides. In addition to polarization curves, in situ electrochemical AFM (EC-AFM) measurements were performed to investigate the effect of the carbides on local dissolution processes. SEM/EDS, TEM/EDS and XRD characterizations showed non-uniform structure and composition of Cr and Mo carbides. SKPFM analysis suggested the carbide boundaries as preferential sites for corrosion/dissolution process. Cyclic polarization curves of the alloy in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution showed a large current density increase above a certain potential, but only a small hysteresis loop during reverse scan. No noticeable pitting corrosion was observed by SEM after the experiments. In situ AFM images of the sample in PBS showed a stable surface at potentials in the passive region and around the potential corresponding to the current increase and slight etching-like dissolution around the carbides at higher potentials. Carbide boundaries are preferential sites for metal dissolution and carbides with non-uniform composition might exhibit different dissolution rates.

Chromium nitrides may precipitate in duplex stainless steels during processing and their influence on the corrosion behavior is of great importance for the steel performance. In this study, the influence of nano-sized quenched-in chromium nitrides on the corrosion behavior of a heat treated 2205 duplex stainless steel was investigated at room temperature and 50 °C (just above critical pitting temperature). The microstructure was characterized by SEM/EDS and AFM analyses, and quenched-in nitrides precipitated in the ferrite phase were identified by TEM analysis. Volta potential mapping at room temperature suggests lower relative nobility of the ferrite matrix. Electrochemical polarization and in-situ AFM measurements in 1 M NaCl solution at room temperature show a passive behavior of the steel despite the presence of the quenched-in nitrides in the ferrite phase, and preferential dissolution of ferrite phase occurred only at transpassive conditions. At 50 °C, selective dissolution of the austenite phase was observed, while the ferrite phase with the quenched-in nitrides remained to be stable. It can be concluded that the finely dispersed quenched-in nitrides do not cause localized corrosion, whereas the exposure temperature has a strong influence on the corrosion behavior of the duplex stainless steel.

Precipitation of different types of chromium nitrides may occur during processing of super duplex stainless steels, affecting the properties of the material. In this study the influence of quenched-in (size range ca. 50-100 nm) and isothermal (size range ca. 80-250 nm) types of nitrides on the corrosion behavior of a 2507 super duplex stainless steel has been investigated at room temperature and at 90 degrees C (above the critical pitting temperature) in 1 M NaCl solution. The microstructure has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy and magnetic force microscopy. The isothermal nitrides exhibit a higher Volta potential compared to the matrix, but such difference could not be observed for the quenched-in nitrides. In-situ electrochemical AFM measurements at room temperature show stable surfaces for a wide range of applied potentials despite the presence of either type of nitrides. In the transpassive region isothermal nitrides appear to be slightly more deleterious than quenched-in nitrides. At 90 degrees C isothermal nitrides largely reduce the corrosion resistance of the austenite phase, while the quenched-in nitrides reduce the corrosion resistance of the material to a much lesser extent. The size difference between isothermal and quenched-in chromium nitrides may be crucial, in particular above the critical pitting temperature.

In this study, preferential sites for metal dissolution during anodic polarization were investigated for a biomedical CoCrMo alloy. As-cast and heat treated materials were compared through a combination of complementary techniques. Scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy mapping suggested the matrix areas adjacent to the carbides to be preferential sites for metal dissolution. By means of in situ electrochemical-optical microscopy it was observed that localized dissolution initiated from the matrix areas adjacent to carbides and grain boundaries in both materials at high anodic potential. By using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis, submicron-sized carbides were found along the grain boundaries, and significant Cr depletion was detected across the grain boundaries for both materials, providing an explanation for the initiation of metal dissolution. A slightly higher metal dissolution was observed for the as-cast sample at high anodic potential, probably due to a more heterogeneous microstructure.

The “transpassive” behavior of a CoCrMo alloy has been investigated to clarify the nature of the current increase at high anodic potential (0.5-0.7 VAg/AgCl). The total amount of released metal ions was determined after the potentiostatic measurements. According to the calculation through Faradays’ law, the metal dissolution only contributes to part of the total current recorded. Electrochemical AFM mapping did not show pronounced topography changes at 0.65 VAg/AgCl, while light optical microscopy observation revealed fast evolution of oxygen bubbles. Evidently water oxidation is another important process largely contributing to the current increase at the high potential.

This work provides insight into the fabrication of ZnAl layered double hydroxides (LDHs) intercalated with organic phthalates (PTL) and their corrosion protection of steel reinforced concrete. The structure, composition and morphology of the LDH products prepared by various methods were systematically characterized to find out the relationship of preparation-structure-properties. The ZnAl-LDH-PTL prepared by co-precipitation method presented the best performance of corrosion protection due to its good crystallinity. The corrosion protection mechanism of LDH for steel in concrete system was also discussed.

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) has been widely developed in the field of corrosion and protection in recent years based on its unique characteristics including anion capacity, anion exchange ability, structure memory effect, and barrier resistance. This paper comprehensively reviews recent work on the preparations, properties of LDH in the forms of powder and film and their applications in different environments in corrosion and protection. Some novel perspectives are also proposed at the end of the review for future research in corrosion and protection field.

Application of protective coatings on metals may involve a thermal treatment process. In this study, the effect of thermal treatment up to 200 degrees C on the corrosion protection was investigated for nanocomposite films composed of mussel adhesive protein (MAP), CeO2 nanoparticles and Na2HPO4 deposited on carbon steel. The morphology and microstructure of the pre-formed nanocomposite film were characterized by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The changes in the chemical structure of the nanocomposite film due to the thermal treatment were investigated by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy. The corrosion protection of the unheated and heated nanocomposite films on carbon steel was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and details of the corrosion process were elucidated by in-situ AFM measurements in 0.1 M NaCl solution. The results show a certain increase in the corrosion protection with time of the nanocomposite film for carbon steel. The analyses reveal that thermal treatment leads to a reduction of water molecules in the nanocomposite film, and an enhanced cross-linking and cohesion of the film due to oxidation of catechols to o-quinones. As a result, the film becomes more compact and gives improved corrosion protection for carbon steel.

A nanocomposite film composed of mussel adhesive protein (MAP) and CeO2 nanoparticles has been explored as a 'green' alternative for corrosion protection of carbon steel. In this work, the nanocomposite film of sub-micron thickness was deposited on carbon steel surface by one-step-dipping method. The film was characterized by using scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive spectroscopy and atomic force microscope (AFM). The measurements of scanning reference electrode technique and in-situ AFM were performed to investigate the initial localized corrosion process at defects and self-healing ability of the nanocomposite film. The results demonstrate that the nanocomposite film possesses a certain self-healing ability and provides excellent corrosion protection for carbon steel in neutral 0.1 M NaCl solution. The self-healing ability is attributed to the functional group (catechol) of the MAP, and the healing process is explained by the fact that Fe ions released from the surface defects promote the formation of Fe-catecholato complexes in the nanocomposite film, which retards the localized corrosion at these defects.

The point of zero charge (pH(pzc)) is one of the most important properties in determining the nature of the surface charge on oxide films in contact with aqueous solutions. Contact angle titration is a simple, rapid and direct surface titration approach to determine the pH(pzc) of oxide films, compared with mass titration, potentiometric titration and batch equilibration method. Although contact angle titration has been an effective method to estimate the pH(pzc) in the past, there are some limitations in previous methodologies for the correlation between the contact angle and the surface charge density, due to the consideration of only the negative charged OH- at surface or the absence of a vital part of solution potential for the electrochemical potential of H+ in electrolyte. Based on the work of many previous contributors, two general thermodynamic methods for determining the pHpzc of oxide films by contact angle titration are developed here. The methods provide precise, fundamental understandings of the variation of the contact angle with surface charge density, which is of great significance for interfacial science.

The pitting potential, intrinsic surface acidity, point of zero charge of passive film on Al are studied using first-principles calculations to establish their relationships. Influences of alloying elements Zn, Cr, Nb, Si, Mo and Sc on adsorption of NH3 and NaCl, pHpzc of Al2O3 and pitting susceptibility of Al are investigated. The efficiency for enhancing pitting resistance of Al is evaluated, yielding the ratios Si: Zn: Cr: Mo: Nb: Sc = 1.8: − 0.3: 1: 1.9: 1.4: 0.2. A model for the dependence of pitting potential on the concentration of alloying elements in Al alloy matrix is developed, based on effects of alloying elements on the surface charge of passive film. The effects of Sc on pitting potential and pHpzc of Al oxide are predicted based on the calculated results, which are supported by electrochemical measurement, XPS analysis and contact angle titration.

Potential drop at the oxide film/solution interface plays a critical part in numerous electrochemical processes, especially for the passivated metal-electrolyte system, affecting the passive film breakdown and the pitting initiation. There are still some controversies over the dependence of potential drop at the passive film/solution interface (φf/s) on potential and pH of electrolyte. Herein, we develop a model presenting the linear dependence of φf/s on both potential and pH, as represented by φf/s=φf/s(V=0,pH=0)0+αV+βpH. By analyzing the surface charge (i.e., point of zero charge, pHpzc) and performing first-principles calculations, we provide the insights into the effect of potential and pH on the φf/s, and into the linear relation between φf/s with pH beyond the Nernst relation that is attributed to the role of point defects in pHpzc of passive film on iron. In addition, two methods, e.g., a combination of Mott-Schottky measurement with first-principles, contact angle titration, are suggested to determine the values of α, β and φf/s(V=0,pH=0)0, respectively. The study of passivity of iron in borate buffer solutions validates our model.

Graphene has exhibited massive potential as a macroscale solid lubricant, but its durability is limited due to the weak adhesion between graphene sheets and the substrate. Here, inspired by mussel adhesive protein (MAP), effective reinforcement of the graphene-substrate interaction to attain remarkable enhancement on the durability of the graphene film is presented. The mussel-inspired graphene (mGr) film exhibits a coefficient of friction stabilizing at 0.16 up to 490000 sliding cycles in the friction testing against the silicon nitride ball; in the identical sliding condition, comparatively, the graphene (Gr) film without MAP only lasts 4300 sliding cycles. The analysis of Raman and ATR-FTIR demonstrates that, on the one hand, the MAP film firmly adsorbs onto the substrate via forming metal-catechol coordination bonds with metal atoms; on the other hand, it establishes strong interactions with graphene sheets by hydrogen bonding as well as the pi-pi overlap. As an interlayer, MAP retains graphene sheets within the contact interface in the form of a compact tribo-layer, which results in an over 2 orders of magnitude enhancement of durability for the mGr film. This strategy of improving the graphene-substrate adhesion via MAP offers an avenue for the development of effective and reliable graphene-based solid lubricants for engineering applications.

A new strategy was proposed to prepare a composite film using mussel adhesive protein Mefp-1 and graphene to achieve corrosion protection and surface lubrication on carbon steel. The dispersibility of graphene in Mefp-1 solution was firstly investigated and deposition methods of Mefp-1/graphene film were proposed. In-situ confocal Raman micro-spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were utilized to study the corrosion inhibition effect in NaCl solution. Friction tests were conducted to study the tribological properties. Results show that the Mefp-1/graphene film exhibits strong adhesion to carbon steel, provides improved corrosion- and wear-resistance, and a significantly increased lubricity on carbon steel.

Mefp-1 adhesive protein derived from marine blue mussels, together with the 2D material graphene, was used to build the green composite film with enhanced anti-corrosion property and mechanical strength. The corrosion inhibition of the composite film, formed by different methods, was evaluated by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The non-degraded adhesion of the composite film to the carbon steel substrate was proved by nano-scratch tests. Infrared spectroscopy was utilized to investigate the film formation process and "three-body interactions " between Mefp-1, graphene and carbon steel surface. The results show that the Mefp-1 adsorbs on the carbon steel surface mainly through the covalent bond between catechols and Fe(III). Meanwhile, Mefp-1 can bond to non-adhesive graphene by forming hydrogen bonds and pi-pi interaction non-covalent bonds, which facilitate the formation of a robust Mefp-1/graphene composite film on the carbon steel surface.

Ruthenium is the most promising material for the barrier layer used for the sub 14 nm technology node in integrated circuits manufacturing. Potassium periodate (KIO4)-based slurry is used in the chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process of the barrier layer. However, the electrochemical and corrosion properties of ruthenium have not been investigated in such slurry. In this paper, the electrochemical and corrosion behaviors of ruthenium in KIO4 solutions were investigated under static conditions but at different pH values by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, combined with surface chemical analysis using auger electron spectroscopy. Moreover, to study wear enhanced corrosion during CMP, tribocorrosion experiments were carried out to monitor the current density changes during and after mechanical scratching. The results show that at pH 6, ruthenium forms a relatively thick and heterogeneous surface film composed of RuO2 center dot 2H(2)O/RuO3, showing a high corrosion resistance and it exhibits a quick repassivation after mechanical scratching. At pH 4, ruthenium shows a passivation behavior with formation of a uniform and conductive oxide like RuO2 center dot 2H(2)O. It should be noted that there is a possible formation of RuO4 toxic gas under this condition, which should be avoided in the actual production. However, at pH 11, ruthenium exhibits no considerable passivity and the corrosion proceeds uniformly.

The corrosion resistance of a two-layer polymer (silane + parylene) coating on implant stainless steel was investigated by microscopic observations and electrochemical measurements Long term exposure tests in Hanks solution revealed that the coating of 2 mu m can be successfully used for corrosion protection However the addition of H2O2 simulating the inflammatory response of human body environment causes a dramatic destruction of the protective coating Analysis of the experimental data in terms of circuit models enables proposing a deterioration mechanism OH radicals formed at the metal surface attack the polymer thus the deterioration starts from the metal/polymer interface and progress towards the outward surface.

The tribological and protective properties of parylene C coatings (2-20 ÎŒm) on stainless steel 316L implant materials were investigated by means of electrochemical measurements and wear tests. The thickness and morphology of the CVD prepared coatings were characterized by scanning electron and laser confocal microscopy. The stability of the coatings was examined in contact with Hanks' solution and H 2O 2 (simulating the inflammatory response). It was concluded that silane-parylene C coating with the optimum thickness of 8 ÎŒm exhibits excellent wear resistance properties and limits the wear formation. The engineered versatile coating demonstrates sufficient elastomer properties, essential to sustain the implantation surgery strains and micromotions during long-term usage in the body.

This work is a continuation of a long-term spent fuel leaching and radionuclides immobilization (by iron canister) experiment under simulated near-field conditions, in deoxygenated 2 mM NaHCO3 solution with 1 Gy/h γ irradiation. The corrosion of iron canister material was investigated by electrochemical and microanalytical methods. Significant amounts of radionuclides (U, Np, Tc, Sr) were found to be immobilized on the corrosion layer of iron canister material by using SEM-WDS and SIMS methods. The observation is useful for bettering our understanding of near-field chemical processes at earlier canister failure conditions.

This paper reports on the results of a long term experiment on spent fuel leaching, canister corrosion and radionuclide immobilization under repository conditions corresponding to early canister failure. A γ-dose of 850 mGy per hour, and Ar-flushed synthetic groundwater were used. During the first 287 days, the fractions of inventory in aqueous phase per day (f/d) increased nearly constantly for each radionuclide (except for 100Mo), with higher fractions for fission products than for actinides. After this initial stage, iron, cast iron and copper coupons (of̃30 mm2 size) were inserted into the leaching vessel: the concentrations of 238U, 237Np and 99Tc decreased by 80%, 97% and 88% to relatively stable levels (500ppb, 0.2ppb and 0.6ppb respectively). 239Pu concentrations slightly increased to the level of PuO2 solubility (0.5ppb). The leaching process for Cs, Mo and 90Sr was not influenced by the added metals. The pH and Eh values and corrosion potential were measured. The polarization resistance (Rp) was obtained from fitting of electrochemical impedance spectra, and then corrected by the surface area of the sample. The corrosion current density Icorr was calculated according to the Stern-Gary relationship, and using the same Tafel constants (26 mV)for all samples, i.e., Icorr = 0.026/Rp. The momentary corrosion rates of iron, cast iron and copper (Cu/Cu+) calculated based on the Faraday's law are in reasonable agreement with the values estimated from observation of thickness of corrosion layers using SEM microscope. The copper coupon appeared much more stable against corrosion than the other coupons. The corrosion layer and radionuclides deposited on corrosion products on iron coupons were analyzed by SEM-EDS and SIMS. Si was found to be coordinated with all iron corrosion products; however, redox sensitive elements U and Pu were mainly coordinated with the inner layer of iron corrosion products even though some 1-2 μm sized uranium-silica rich particles were found on the outer side of the iron corrosion layer. The findings of this work contribute to an improved understanding of the behaviour of spent fuel under near field repository conditions.

In this work, a multi-analytical in situ and ex situ approach was used to provide information needed to identify the role of an individual heterogeneous intermetallic particle (IMP) in localized corrosion initiation of aluminium alloys. The heterogeneity of the IMP was studied by combining atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEMEDS) and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). A complex AlMnFeSi IMP phase with different chemical composition in its inner and outer parts was characterized by SEMEDS analysis. AFM results uniquely revealed a brain-like feature of an IMP with 20nm height variations. Submicron sized galvanic cell induced by morphological and compositional heterogeneity resulted in a localized corrosion attack inside the individual IMP. Various collected current levels measured by SECM were associated to the morphological and compositional heterogeneity of IMPs.

An integrated atomic force microscopy/scanning electrochemical microscopy (AFM/SECM) system was developed as an in situ local electrochemical probing technique. It consists of a dual-mode probe acting as an AFM cantilever and SECM microelectrode to simultaneously obtain the topography and electrochemical current map of the same area. Two types of probes with different geometries were used. The scan velocity and concentration profile of the redox mediator during the scan were simulated, using the equations of convection-diffusion mass transport coupled with continuity and momentum in three dimensions under steady-state and transient conditions. The temporal and spatial resolutions of the probes were investigated. It was found that, during a normal scan rate (around 1 Hz), the effect of convective transport is negligible and the SECM lateral resolution depends on the geometrical parameters. With favorable geometry, a probe with a Pt microelectrode of 1 mu m diameter can distinguish two active sites with a distance of at least 3-4 mu m. The paper also reports experiments for characterization and calibration of the AFM/SECM system. Concurrent AFM and SECM images obtained on a gold band calibration sample verify the high-resolution capability of the SECM of one or a few micrometers with optimized conditions.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has been integrated with electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM), and applied for in situ studies of localized corrosion of Al alloys in NaCl solution. The instrument utilizes a dual mode probe, which functions both as a normal cantilever and as an ultramicroelectrode. The I^-/I₃^- redox mediator was used for mapping of local electrochemical current. Concurrent topography and electrochemical activity maps have been obtained on the same surface area with micrometer lateral resolution. Preliminary results show ongoing localized dissolution related to intermetallic particles in the Al alloys, which may occur well below the breakdown potential.