Observation of Sea Salt Particle by AFM

摘要

It is well known that the corrosion of steel occurs bysea salt particle near seashore environment. However, it is notunderstood that the shape of sea salt particle and whether sea saltparticle is the liquid or solid status when it attaches the steel. Themorphology of attachment of sea salt particle has a large influenceon corrosion of steel. It is very important to understand themorphology and composition of sea salt particle. The morphologyand composition of sea salt particle was studied by using an AFMand an optical microscope under relative humidity controlconditions. As the result, it was found that the sea salt particleattached the specimen with circular figure and that the thin liquidfilm of MgCl2 with thickness of 10 nm existed. Small sea saltparticles with diameter of 50 nm were found around the big sea salt particle.