Methods and apparatus for detection of gaseous corrosive contaminants

A method for detecting a corrosion-accelerating gas at a location, the method comprising:

• providing a corrosion detection apparatus comprising:
• a plurality of metal strips located on an insulating surface of a substrate, wherein each of the plurality of metal strips has a different thickness in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insulating surface of the substrate than another of the plurality of metal strips,
• wherein each of the plurality of metal strips is comprised of:
• an exposed strip portion that is permeable to the corrosion-accelerating gas;
• and
• a protected strip portion that is not permeable to the corrosion-accelerating gas,
• wherein the exposed strip portion and the protected strip portion of the each of the plurality of metal strips are connected in a series connection;
• measuring data on a resistance change in a first metal strip of the plurality of metal strips, the first metal strip being exposed to the corrosion-accelerating gas in a first time period;
• determining a first corrosion rate of the first metal strip for the first time period based on the measured data on the resistance change in the first metal strip;
• measuring data on a resistance change in a second metal strip of the plurality of metal strips, the second metal strip being exposed to the corrosion-accelerating gas in the second time period;
• and
• determining a second corrosion rate of the second metal strip in the second time period based on the measured data on the resistance change in the second metal strip,
• wherein:
• the first metal strip has a first thickness in the direction substantially perpendicular to the insulating surface, the second metal strip has a second thickness in the direction substantially perpendicular to the insulating surface, and the second thickness is greater than the first thickness, and
• the second time period includes at least a time period subsequent to the first time period.