What is a characteristic of an electrochemical corrosion cell when polarization increases?

When polarization increases in an electrochemical corrosion cell, the primary phenomenon that occurs is a reduction in the current. Polarization refers to the change in the electrode potential that occurs when a current flows through the system. As polarization increases, it leads to a greater resistance against the flow of electrons at the electrodes, effectively limiting the amount of current that can pass.

In electrochemical terms, when the anodic or cathodic processes become less favorable due to changes in the reaction kinetics or mass transport limitations, the overall current diminishes. This means that even if the driving voltage remains constant, the increased polarization acts as a barrier to the ongoing reactions, driving the current down.

Consequently, the relationship between polarization and current is direct: increased polarization results in decreased current. This concept is fundamental in understanding how corrosion processes can be controlled and mitigated through various forms of cathodic protection and other intervention strategies in electrochemical systems.