Identification of coating damage processes in corroded galvanized steel by acoustic emission wavelet analysis

Scratch tests using Acoustic Emission (AE) were performed on corroded hot dip galvanized samples. Coatings and scratches were studied by scanning electron microscopy and electron dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and the coatings additionally by X-ray diffraction. Damage mechanisms could be identified applying Wavelet Transform analysis to AE signals. The evolution of specific AE wavelet parameters like the wavelet power was suited to identify damage mechanisms. In general, the AE power was distributed in certain scale (frequency) bands in the time-scale plane, and different coating damage mechanisms could be assigned to different bands. In particular, signals due to corrosion and non-corrosion mechanisms could be neatly separated.