Initial Atmospheric Corrosion of Zinc Induced by Carboxylic Acids: A Quantitative In Situ Study

Abstract

The initial atmospheric corrosion of zinc induced by formic acid, acetic acid, and propionic acid has been followed in situ with infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). An optical model was applied to quantify the IRAS data, which enabled the absolute amounts of the two main species detected, ZnO and zinc carboxylate (mainly hydrated or hydroxyl zinc carboxylate), to be derived. The formation rate of zinc carboxylate increases as propionic