Fluorescent probe detection of metals in corrosive environments

Abstract

Corrosion of metal surfaces is slowed down with the addition of protective coatings. Two studies that have explored monitoring corrosion of pigmented and non-­‐pigmented coatings, using metal sensitive fluorescent probes will be discussed. The Rawlins group at the University of Southern Mississippi investigated the use of KMG-­‐20-­‐AM, a magnesium sensitive probe, to predict the lifetime of a magnesium coating on an aluminum alloy panel. An increase in fluorescence intensity of KMG-­‐20-­‐AM doped magnesium coating suggested an interaction with the free magnesium in the coating. Sibi and Zong focused on fluorescence of samples of the corrosion solution for an aluminum alloy panel with the use of three metal ion selective probes. The fluorescence intensity of the corrosion solution samples, of the aluminum panel, suggested different leaching progressions of metal ions from the panel. Based on the results of these studies, the data suggest that, there is a high potential for the use of fluorescent probes as a technique to monitor metal corrosion.