The corrosion and electrochemical behaviour of pure aluminium in alkaline methanol solutions

The corrosion and electrochemical behaviour of pure aluminium in alkaline methanol solutions has been investigated. The results of hydrogen collection experiments showed that aluminium has a lower corrosion rate in alkaline methanol solutions compared to water based solutions and that the corrosion rate increases with increasing water content of the solution. Polarization and galvanostatic discharge experiments showed that there is a wide potential window of electrochemical activity and a better discharge performance in the alkaline methanol solutions with a certain amount of water. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX) showed that the passivation in the later stages of discharge in alkaline methanol solutions at relatively high current densities is due to the formation of a dense Al(OH)(3) layer on the surface of the anode.