An assessment of the formation of electrodeposited scales using scanning electron and atomic force microscopy

The deposition of insoluble salts onto surfaces in process systems represents an important operational problem. Mineral scale formation (e.g. CaCO₃ and BaSO₄) can result from fluid streams becoming supersaturated when incompatible waters combine (e.g. in oil recovery) or can be formed when cathodic protection is applied and electrodeposition occurs. In this study, electrodeposition is studied on metal rotating disk electrodes (RDE) in artificial seawater under static conditions and under rotation at 400 rpm. Also, a Ca-free brine and a Mg-free brine of the same dissolved solids level were used in static tests. The focus of the study is the assessment of the electrochemical response of the system under potentiostatic control and correlation of the current versus time measurements to the characteristics of the scale determined via scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy analysis. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.