Abstract
Purpose: The electrochemical corrosion behavior of tin oxide film coated on PET substrates has been studied under varying concentrations of acrylic acid to investigate possible corrosion in contact with the acidic environment. Method: Potentiodynamic test was performed for a commercial ITO/PET film in 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 M of acrylic acid. The surface morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Results: Potentiodynamic test results showed an increase in Icorr and decrease in Ecorr value with increasing concentration of acid. Microscopic evaluation suggested the presence of certain deep cracks on the surface of the film in addition with a severe acidic attack. Conclusion: Exposure of ITO to acrylic acid resulted in the stress corrosion cracking of ITO film due to the mechanical mismatch between brittle inorganic ITO fim and a compliant organic PET substrate leading to the subsequent failure of the film.