Abstract
	Electrochemical investigation of the state of powder surface can favourably be made using the method of abrasive voltammetry with paraffine impregnated graphite electrode as sensor. According to our knowledge, this method was not used for that purpose so far. The electrochemical process investigated  was the anodic dissolution of Fe powder particles. The normal pulse voltammetry  peak potential, current and total charge were the parameters measured.  The size of the particles  substantially influences the values of both peak potential and shape : with increasing particle size the peak potential shifts to  more positive values and the peak becomes broader and less defined. 
	The aim of this work was however to find suitable electrochemical  parameter reflecting the reactivity of the powder surface which is important from the point of view of its further chemical or electrochemical reactions. Various ways of pretreatment of the powder in order to enhance its reactivity were used : mechanical - grinding, thermal -annealing, and chemical - etching in a reductive solution  as well as the combinations of these  pretreatment ways. 
	It was found that the ratio of  peak current to total charge value, ip/Qt, named here as steepness of the peak provides a parameter which could reflect the electrochemical dissolution rate of the powder from the electrode, therefore it could  reflect  the surface reactivity of the powder  investigated. The best results as to the reactivity of Fe powder can be obtained by chemical way of  pretreatment which was shown by highest  values of the peak steepness and afterwards  proved  by best results of the electrochemical plating of Ni layer on such surfaces.  
	Other ways of activation than the chemical one lead to less active powder surfaces, the value of ip/Qt does not reach the values measured for chemically pretreated powders.  The dissolution process is the slowest in the case of thermally or mechanicallly and thermally treated powders.