EFM Experimental Sequence

Run the Electrochemical Frequency Modulation standard technique by selecting Experiment>Electrochemical Frequency Modulation>Electrochemical Frequency Modulation from the Framework™ menu bar. This initiates the following sequence of events:

  1. Framework creates a runner window, and the Electrochemical Frequency Modulation.exp script is run in this window.
  2. The script creates the Setup dialog box and accepts changes in the Setup parameters.
  3. The script now obtains the use of the potentiostat specified during Setup, and opens the data file using the Output File name. If the potentiostat is in use or the file cannot be opened, the script returns you to the Setup dialog box.
  4. The file header information is written to the data file. This header information includes tags identifying possible analyses, the time and date, and a list of the Setup parameters. This information is written to the file before data-acquisition. If the experiment is aborted, the output file contains only this information.
  5. The script conditions the electrode if you specified Conditioning in the Setup. Conditioning is done by applying a fixed potential for a defined time. It establishes a known surface state on the corrosion specimen. A plot of current versus time is displayed during the Conditioning.
  6. The cell is turned off and the specimen’s Eoc is measured.
  7. If an Init. Delay is turned on in the Setup, this step lasts for the time specified as the Init. Delay time, or until the potential stabilizes. If no Init. Delay is specified, this step only lasts long enough for Eoc to be measured. A plot of potential versus time is always displayed. The last measured potential is recorded as Eoc.
  8. The cell is turned on and the composite, dual sine wave, waveform is applied to the cell. Current readings at fixed time intervals are taken during the experiment. If you selected Autorange, the current scale is automatically optimized at each point in the waveform. The measured potential and current are displayed during the measurement.
  9. When the scan is over, the cell is turned off. The acquired data are written to the output file. The script then waits for you to click the Skip button. When you do so, the script closes everything that’s open, including the runner window.