Chemical Society Seminar: -Samantha Gateman- The Tales of Corrosion: Understanding Metal Degradation using a Multiscale Electrochemical Approach

Abstract:

Corrosion is an electrochemical process that involves metal oxidation through interactions with the environment, leading to material deterioration. Much of our fundamental understanding of corrosion relies on the assumption that metallic materials uniformly corrode. Yet, it is estimated that 75% of corrosion failures are due to corrosion that initiates at a specific location along the material’s surface. This localized corrosion is difficult to predict, detect, and quantify before detrimental damage has occurred.¹ Scanning electrochemical probe microscopy (SEPM) methods have become useful tools to investigate localized corrosion initiation mechanisms.² The advancement and standardization of SEPM is crucial for the development of longer lasting and safer materials, where feedback loops between characterization researchers and material developers can be made to accelerate the improvement of metal fabrication processes.

In this seminar, I will discuss some of my research efforts using a multiscale electrochemical approach to understand the corrosion behaviour and mechanisms of industrially and societally relevant metallic materials. First, the possibility of using metal thermal spray coatings to prolong the lifetime of hydraulic turbine infrastructure will be discussed.^3,4 Next, the approach taken will be expanded to our recent work on cold spray coatings that are being proposed as a protection method for used nuclear fuel waste containers.⁵ I will end the discussion by sharing my aspirations to challenge an outdated contraceptive technology by utilizing advancements in coating methods and corrosion knowledge to improve the user experience of non-hormonal intrauterine devices.

Bio:

Dr. Gateman is an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department at Western University in London, Ontario, and the Chair in Radiation Induced Chemistry funded by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). Her interest in electrochemistry sparked during her experience as an undergraduate summer researcher while working with Prof. Mauzeroll at McGill University. Dr. Gateman continued her education at McGill as a graduate student, where her NSERC-funded PhD research focused on using multiscale electrochemical methods to understand the corrosion behaviour of ferrous coatings proposed to improve the degradation issues faced in hydraulic turbine systems. During her PhD, Dr. Gateman obtained a Mitacs Globalink Research Award to pursue investigations of superhydrophobic coatings with Prof. Ivan Parkin at University College London. She is also the recipient of the D. W. Ambridge Prize for best thesis in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at McGill University, the McGill Chemistry Carl Winkler Award, and the Graduate Student Excellence Award from the NACE Foundation of Canada. Dr. Gateman then moved to Paris, France, to begin an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Vincent Vivier. There, she worked in collaboration with the chemical company, Merck, on investigating the local aging fluctuations of ionic exchange materials for MilliQ water purification systems using multiscale electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Dr. Gateman returned home to Canada in 2022 to begin her independent career as an Assistant Professor at Western University. She is building her research program that focuses on advancing scanning electrochemical probe microscopy (SEPM) methods for elucidating corrosion mechanisms of both metal coatings and polymer-coated metals for the protection of industrial infrastructure and biomedical devices. Dr. Gateman’s research highlights the importance of bridging the gap between analytical chemists, corrosion scientists, and industry through tailoring quantitative and spatially resolved electrochemical methods to investigate corrosion initiation mechanisms on the micro/nano scale under simulated in-service environments.