A QUARTZ-CRYSTAL MICROBALANCE PROBE DEVELOPED FOR OUTDOOR IN-SITU ATMOSPHERIC CORROSIVITY MONITORING

In order to perform in situ monitoring of minute corrosion attacks dur ing outdoor field exposures, an atmospheric corrosivity probe has been developed based on the quartz crystal microbalance. A remotely contro lled computerized mobile field station was also constructed. The whole setup allows simultaneous in situ measurements of mass changes with a resolution of +/- 10 ng cm(-1), and of climatic parameters. The obser ved mass changes during introductory exposures of gold and copper in a n urban atmosphere are both reversible and irreversible. Aided by ex s itu x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, the results can be inte rpreted in terms of salt deposition, water adsorption, water desorptio n, and atmospheric corrosion effects.