The corrosion mechanisms and the inhibiting effect of sodium phosphate at cut edges on galvanized steel was studied by potentiodynamic polarization, EIS and monitoring of local ionic currents made by means of the scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET). Assessment of zinc and of iron single electrodes was also made for comparison. In the absence of phosphate, corrosion of electrogalvanized steel at the cut edge is cathodically inhibited by the precipitation of zinc corrosion products over the steel surface. Mapping of the ionic currents revealed that the cathodic area becomes laterally shifted away from the anode as zinc corrosion products precipitate along parallel lines that are dictated by the location of the maximum cathodic currents. Sodium phosphate revealed inhibiting properties on the cut edge by precipitation of zinc phosphate, in the form of gel-like zinc phosphate Clusters. Estimated inhibiting efficiencies for the cut edge were slightly above 80%. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.