Electrochemical impedance evaluation and inspection sensor
AssigneeLynntech, Inc.
InventorsAnuncia Gonzalez-Martin, Jinseong Kim, Dalibor Hodko, Carlos Salinas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy having a solid electrolyte is disclosed. The apparatus has a chamber made of an electronically insulating material, a solid electrolyte coupled to the chamber and an electrode disposed in the chamber. A biasing member is used to urge the electrode towards the solid electrolyte and urge the solid electrolyte toward the substrate. The solid electrolyte is designed to contact the surface to be tested directly with no corrosive or otherwise harmful effect to the surface. A method for the detection of corrosion in bare or coated metallic substrates is also provided.
Claims47
An apparatus for detecting corrosion in an electronically conducting metal substrate comprising:
- (a) a housing having an open end portion;
- (b) a solid polymer electrolyte membrane coupled over the open end portion of the housing and having a first exposed surface adapted to be positionable in contact with a surface of the substrate;
- and
- (c) an electrode disposed in the housing and in electrochemical communication with a second surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the first exposed surface of the membrane directly opposes the electrode.
An apparatus for analyzing corrosion comprising:
- (a) a solid polymer electrolyte membrane having a first exposed surface adapted to be positionable in contact with a surface of a substrate;
- (b) an electrode in electrochemical communication with a second surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane;
- and
- (c) a source of a fluid for hydrating the solid polymer electrolyte membrane.
An apparatus for analyzing corrosion comprising:
- (a) a sensor having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an electrode in electrochemical communication with the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a source of a fluid for hydrating the solid polymer electrolyte membrane;
- and
- (b) an impedance measuring instrument in electrical contact with the electrode.
An apparatus for detecting corrosion in an electronically conducting metal substrate comprising:
- (a) a housing having an open end portion;
- (b) a solid polymer electrolyte membrane coupled over the open end portion of the housing and having a first exposed surface adapted to be positionable in contact with a surface of the substrate;
- (c) an electrode disposed in the housing and in electrochemical communication with a second surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane;
- and
- (d) a voltage source having a first terminal in electronic communication with the electrode and a second terminal in electronic communication with the substrate for providing an AC source voltage at a selected frequency.
An apparatus for detecting corrosion in an electronically conducting metal substrate comprising:
- (a) a housing having an open end portion;
- (b) a solid polymer electrolyte membrane coupled over the open end portion of the housing and having a first exposed surface adapted to be positionable in contact with a surface of the substrate;
- and
- (c) an electrode disposed in the housing and in electrochemical communication with a second surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the first surface of the membrane is free from electrodes.
An apparatus for detecting corrosion in an electronically conducting metal substrate comprising:
- (a) a housing having an open end portion;
- (b) a solid polymer electrolyte membrane coupled over the open end portion of the housing and having a first exposed surface adapted to be positionable in contact with a surface of the substrate;
- and
- (c) a thin film electrode fixed to a second surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane.
An apparatus for detecting corrosion in an electronically conducting metal substrate comprising:
- (a) a housing having an open end portion;
- (b) a solid polymer electrolyte membrane coupled over the open end portion of the housing and having a first exposed surface adapted to be positionable in contact with a surface of the substrate;
- and
- (c) an electrode disposed in the housing;
- and
- (d) a biasing member disposed in the housing to urge the electrode into contact with a second surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and urge the solid electrolyte into contact with the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.