Detection of Rust Corrosion in Mild Steel and Stainless Steel Through Headspace Analysis by Electronic Noses

Corrosion poses a significant challenge across various industries, necessitating continuous monitoring to prevent catastrophic failures. This study explores an alternative noninvasive approach to corrosion detection by identifying by-products resulting from redox reactions or catalytic interactions between rust and its environment, leading to the emission of gaseous compounds. Utilizing electronic noses (eNoses), specifically the AlphaMOS FOX4000 and the custom-built Warwick OLFaction (WOLF), we analyzed the chemical headspace of rusted samples in comparison with control samples. The results indicated discernible variations in the chemical compounds within the rusted sample environments, including mild steel, stainless steel, air, and corrosion accelerant blanks, over specified corrosion time intervals ranging from 1 h to two months. Principal component analysis (PCA) unveiled distinctive clusters among corroded samples at different time points, illustrating notable disparities between rusted and nonrusted samples, as well as variations among the corroded samples based on the duration of corrosion. Our findings demonstrate the potential of eNoses for noninvasive corrosion detection, with applications in maintaining structural integrity and enhancing safety in critical infrastructure.