Impedance-Based Wireless Sensor Network for Metal-Protective Coating Evaluation

Researchers have been focused on the influences of flowing fluid on the corrosion of bare metals, but there is little emphasis on the degradation of metal-protective coating. Evaluating the metal-protective coating usually uses the Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) method. EIS is a technique used for evaluating coating permeability or barrier performance based on the electrical impedance of coating. This paper presents a new impedance-based wireless sensor network for metal-protective coating evaluation. This wireless sensor network consists of two parts: impedance-based wireless sensor nodes and a wireless data base that are equipped with a network analyzer (AD5933) and a RF transceiver (CC1111/ CC1110). In the experiment, there are three coating panels immersed in flowing deionized water (DI water) and one coating panel immersed in stationary DI water. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed wireless sensor network is capable to evaluate the coating degrading.