A statistical study combining atomic force microscopy, scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy was carried out on more than 300 Al2CuMg intermetallic particles of AA2024 alloy to determine their corrosion behavior in chloride-containing solutions. The combination of these three techniques allowed the correlation of the dissolution depth of the S-phase particles to their SKPFM potential and their chemical composition. This study also revealed that SKPFM measurements must be carried out with many precautions, but it is a powerful tool for the study of localized corrosion. (c) 2007 The Electrochemical Society.