Corrosion Studies - AES

Nanoscale surface analysis via Auger Electron Spectroscopy provides the ability to obtain compositional information from ultra thin surface layers and nanoscale particles that are difficult to characterize with other techniques and may play a key role in expanding the understanding of corrosion processes. Shown below are secondary electron (Fig. 1) and compositional images (Fig. 2) of a submicron manganese sulfide (MnS) inclusion, in a corrosion test sample, that show the presence of a thin layer of copper on the inclusion. MnS inclusions are believed to play a key role in initiating corrosion processes for this sample.

Sample is courtesy of Recep Avci, Montana State University