In situ fluorescence imaging of localized corrosion with a pH-sensitive imaging fiber.

A fiber-optic pH-imaging sensor array capable of both visualizing remote corrosion sites and measuring local chemical concentrations at these sites was applied to realtime corrosion monitoring. The imaging fiber's distal face, containing an immobilized pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, was brought into contact with metal surfaces submerged in aqueous buffers and fluorescence images were acquired as a function of time. Heterogeneous fluorescence signals were observed due to both pH increases at cathodic surface sites and pH decreases at anodic surface sites. These fluorescence signals showed both localization and rates of corrosion activity. Three corrosion processes were investigated, galvanic corrosion at a copper/aluminum interface and crevice corrosion and pitting at a stainless steel surface. The spatial resolution of the technique was limited by proton/hydroxide diffusion and the diameter of the individually clad optical fibers comprising the imaging bundle.