Kinetic Cellular Model of Corrosion

Abstract

Aqueous corrosion of metals involves multiple interconnected processes. Thus, computer simulation of corrosion as a whole needs to be able to describe the individual processes and how they influence each other. Atomistic simulations are designed to obtain detailed information for small regions of space over short times. Thus there are limits to the understanding that can be obtained by atomistic simulations alone. Here is presented a method that uses generalised rate equations to extend the length and time scales that can be accessed. It is shown to reduce to either the phase field or cellular automata methods in certain limits. The generalised kinetic equations can reproduce the behaviour described by both the Nernst-Planck and Butler-Volmer equations, which are frequently used to describe corrosion. In addition, the method can describe local rearrangements of atoms such as chemical reactions. Example results are shown for illustrative 1D and 2D problems, with good agreement being found with other methods.