Soft X-ray spectromicroscopy for in situ study of corrosion

Corrosion of filings from an ASTM Grade 60 steel reinforcing bar was examin ed in situ using the soft X-ray transmission microscope XM-1, operated by t he Center for X-ray Optics and located at the Advanced Light Source at E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Iron distribution maps generated fr om X-ray images of a steel filing before and after the addition of water sh ow the change in elemental iron distribution in the sample. The decreased p resence of iron in the distribution map after the introduction of water ind icates the oxidation of iron - the anodic reaction in steel corrosion. Thes e results demonstrate the utility of transmission soft X-ray microscopy for in, situ corrosion studies. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.