Influence of silicon on the corrosion behaviour of Al–Zn–In–Mg–Ti sacrificial anode

The influence of Si on the corrosion behaviour of Al–5Zn–0.03In–1Mg–0.05Ti (wt.%) alloy was investigated by the microstructure observation and electrochemical measurements in order to improve its corrosion non-uniform and electrochemical properties. The main precipitates in Al–5Zn–0.03In–1Mg–0.05Ti–0.1Si (wt.%) alloy is Mg₂Si phase, which decrease the galvanic corrosion because the potential difference between Mg₂Si and a-Al is smaller than that between MgZn₂ and a-Al. The addition of Si improves the corrosion uniformity of the anode due to the fine equiaxed grains and grain boundaries where Mg₂Si particles uniformly distributed. The results indicate that the microstructure, electrochemical characteristics and corrosion uniformity can be improved significantly after adding 0.1 wt.% Si into Al–5Zn–0.03In–1Mg–0.05Ti (wt.%) alloy.     

Electrochemical study on hot corrosion of Si-modified aluminide coated In-738LC in Na2SO4-20 wt.% NaCl melt at 750 °C

The corrosion performance of the slurry Si-modified aluminide coating on the nickel base superalloy In-738LC exposed to low temperature hot corrosion condition has been investigated in Na₂SO₄-20 wt.% NaCl melt at 750 °C by combined use of the anodic polarization and characterization techniques.The coated specimen showed a passive behavior up to −0.460 V vs. Ag/AgCl (0.1 mol fraction) reference electrode, followed by a rapid increase in anodic current due to localized attack in the higher potential region. In the passive region, the anodic dissolution of constituents of the coating occurred through the passive film, probably SiO₂, at slow rate of 20-30 μA/cm². The passive current for the Si-modified coating was two orders of magnitude smaller than that for bare In-738LC, which is known as Cr₂O₃ former in this melt. This indicates that the SiO₂ film is chemically more stable than Cr₂O₃ film under this condition. However, pitting-like corrosion commenced around −0.460 V and proceeded at the high rate of 100 mA/cm² in the higher potential region than +0.400 V. The corrosion products formed on the coating polarized in different anodic potentials were characterized by SEM, EDS and XRD. It was found from the characterization that oxidation was dominant attack mode and no considerable sulfidation occurred at 750 °C. The SiO₂ oxide was not characterized in the passive region because the thickness of the passive film was extremely thin, but was detected as the primary oxide in the localized corrosion region, where the selective oxidation of Al was observed by further progress of the corrosion attack front into the inner layer of coating.     

Effect of magnesium hydride on the corrosion behavior of an AZ91 magnesium alloy in sodium chloride solution

The effect of magnesium hydride on the corrosion behavior of an as-cast AZ91 alloy in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution was investigated using gas collection method and potentiostatic test. The Pourbaix diagram of Mg–H₂O system was built using thermodynamic calculation. It was possible that magnesium hydride could form in the whole pH range in theory. The experimental results showed that at cathodic region, magnesium hydride formed on surface, which was the controlling process for the corrosion behavior of AZ91 alloy; at anodic region and free corrosion potential, magnesium hydride model and partially protective film model, monovalent magnesium ion model and particle undermining model were responsible for the corrosion process of AZ91 alloy.     

The use of microcapillary techniques to study the corrosion resistance of AZ91 magnesium alloy at the microscale

The AZ91 alloy is composed of Mg₁₇(Al, Zn)₁₂ precipitates, an eutectic phase around these precipitates, AlMn intermetallic particles and an α-Mg solid solution (matrix). The corrosion behaviour of AZ91 was investigated at the microscale by means of the electrochemical microcell technique, which uses extremely small capillaries (diameters between 5 and 10 μm). Experiments were conducted in 0.1 M NaClO₄ at 25 °C. The β-Mg₁₇(Al, Zn)₁₂ precipitates were found to have the highest corrosion resistance, whereas the eutectic phase was very active (pitting potential of approximately −1400 mV vs. Ag/AgCl). The α-Mg solid solution displayed better corrosion resistance than the eutectic phase.     

Corrosion of an Al–Mg–Si alloy under MgCl2 solution droplets

The corrosion behavior of an Al–0.63Mg–0.28Si alloy under droplets of MgCl₂ solution in environments of 75% and 33% RH was studied using a Kelvin Probe. The equilibrium chloride concentrations in these two environments are 5.8 and 9.8 M chloride, respectively. In the 33% RH environment, metastable pitting was the main form of corrosion. In some cases at 75% RH, the potential baseline decreased slowly by hundreds of millivolts and remained at the lower value. These samples exhibited filiform-like corrosion inside micro-droplets that formed outside of the main MgCl₂ drop. A model for the filiform-like attack in a micro-droplet is presented.     

Effect of tin modification on corrosion of AM70 magnesium alloy

In this study, AM70 magnesium alloys with and without 2 wt.% Sn addition are compared for their corrosion performance. They are found to have similar corrosion rates in the first 70 h in 5 wt.% NaCl solution, but in extended immersion test the Sn modified AM70 exhibits accelerated overall corrosion. Nevertheless, Sn modification significantly decreases the susceptibility of the alloy to localized corrosion attack. Polarization curve measurements further indicate that the Sn modified AM70 is likely to have worse galvanic corrosion than AM70 in terms of the loss of metal, but again the Sn modification makes the galvanic corrosion less localized, which is an improvement aspect of the galvanic corrosion performance. The effect of Sn addition on the corrosion behavior appears to be associated with the presence of Sn-containing particles and the solute Sn in the matrix phase, which may change the electrochemical anodic and cathodic polarization behavior of the alloy.     

Effect of carbon on corrosion and passivation of iron in hot concentrated NaOH solution in relation to caustic stress corrosion cracking

Quenched Fe-C materials with up to 0.875 wt.% C were examined in 8.5 M NaOH at 100 °C to better understand the effect of carbon on caustic stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of plain steels. Carbon at contents up to about 0.23 wt.% C accelerated anodic dissolution of iron, whereas at high contents it hindered corrosion and promoted the formation of magnetite. It is suggested that carbon particles on the corroding surface form confined regions with an increased concentration of H⁺ and HFeO₂⁻, thereby favouring the formation of Fe₃O₄. Intergranular SCC can be explained by preferred anodic dissolution of grain boundary material enriched in carbon.     

Electrochemical behaviour and corrosion of Mg–Y alloys

Corrosion of cast magnesium–yttrium (Y) alloys with systematic Y additions up to a nominal 18 wt.% were studied. Corrosion performance was related to the quantitative alloy microstructure and found to increase significantly with the level of alloying and volume fraction of the Mg–Y intermetallic present. In the alloy microstructures, Mg₂₄Y₅ was principally formed; the electrochemistry of which was characterised using the electrochemical microcell method. Electrochemical testing revealed the fundamental corrosion behaviour of Mg–Y alloys and elucidated the corrosion mechanisms at play.     

Effect of sintering temperature on corrosion properties of sol–gel based Al2O3 coatings on pre-treated AZ91D magnesium alloy

A novel anti-corrosion sol–gel based Al₂O₃ coating was developed on the AZ91D magnesium alloy. The morphology, microstructure and composition of the coatings were investigated by scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis, X-ray diffraction, thermo-gravimetric and differential thermal analysis. The corrosion resistance of the coatings in 3.5 NaCl wt.% solution was studied using electrochemical measurements. The results demonstrated that a homogeneous Al₂O₃ coating could be obtained and the sol–gel coated samples sintered at 380 °C had the best corrosion resistance properties as compared to the specimens sintered at 120 and 280 °C.     

Hot corrosion behaviour of low Al NiCoCrAlY cladded coatings reinforced by nano-particles on a Ni-base super alloy

Three NiCoCrAlY coatings with Al content lower than 5 wt.% reinforced by different kinds of nano-particles with the same addition and one without nano-particles were prepared on a Ni-base super alloy using laser cladding technique. Hot corrosion of the NiCoCrAlY coatings in Na₂SO₄/K₂SO₄ (75:25, wt./wt.) mixture was performed at 1050 °C in static air. Results indicate that the hot corrosion resistance of the coatings with nano-particles is better than that of the one without nano-particles, among which the one with nano-CeO₂ presented the best hot corrosion resistance. Effects of nano-particles on the hot corrosion behaviour were also discussed.     

The corrosion behavior of Cu–Al and Cu–Al–Be shape-memory alloys in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution

The corrosion behavior of Cu–Al and Cu–Al–Be (0.55–1.0 wt%) shape-memory alloys in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution at 25 °C was studied by means of anodic polarization, cyclic voltammetry, and alternative current impedance measurements. The results of anodic polarization test show that anodic dissolution rates of alloys decreased slightly with increasing the concentrations of aluminum or beryllium. Severe intergranular corrosion of Cu–Al alloy was observed after alternative current impedance measurement performed at the anodic potential of 0.6 V. However, the addition of a small amount of beryllium was effective to prevent the intergranular corrosion. The effect of beryllium addition on the prevention of intergranular corrosion is possibly attributed to the diffusion of beryllium atoms into grain boundaries, which in turn deactivates the grain boundaries.     

Corrosion behaviour of zinc–cerium alloys: Role of intermetallic phases

New zinc–cerium alloys (up to 5 wt.%) was synthesized and their corrosion behaviour was studied in a reference corrosive media. Metallographic analyses show that cerium is exclusively present in a Zn₁₁Ce intermetallic phase, homogeneously dispersed in the zinc matrix. With an optimal concentration at around 1.5 wt.%, the Zn₁₁Ce phase acts as a tank of cerium to form a protective Ce-enriched passive layer. Nevertheless, at high Ce content, the benefit in terms of corrosion resistance obtained by the incorporation of Ce in the corrosion layer is shaded by the galvanic coupling between the intermetallic phase and the matrix.     

Discontinuities in the porous anodic film formed on AA2099-T8 aluminium alloy

The anodizing behaviour of constituent particles (Al–Fe–Mn–Cu) and dispersoids (Al–Cu–Mn–Li and β′(Al₃Zr)) in AA2099-T8 has been investigated. Low-copper-containing Al–Fe–Mn–Cu particles anodized more slowly than the alloy matrix, forming a highly porous anodic oxide film. Medium- and high-copper-containing Al–Fe–Mn–Cu particles were rapidly dissolved, resulting in defects in the anodic film. The anodizing of Al–Cu–Mn–Li dispersoids is slightly slower than the alloy matrix, forming a less regular anodic oxide film. β′(Al₃Zr) dispersoids anodized at a similar rate to the alloy matrix. Further, the potential impact of the discontinuities in the resultant anodic films on the performance of the filmed alloy is discussed.     

Corrosion properties of active screen plasma nitrided 316 austenitic stainless steel

AISI 316 austenitic stainless steel has been plasma nitrided using the active screen plasma nitriding (ASPN) technique. Corrosion properties of the untreated and AS plasma nitrided 316 steel have been evaluated using various techniques, including qualitative evaluation after etching in 50%HCl + 25%HNO₃ + 25%H₂O, weight loss measurement after immersion in 10% HCl, and anodic polarisation tests in 3.5% NaCl solution. The results showed that the untreated 316 stainless steel suffered severe localised pitting and crevice corrosion under the testing conditions. AS plasma nitriding at low temperature (420 °C) produced a single phase nitrided layer of nitrogen expanded austenite (S-phase), which considerably improved the corrosion properties of the 316 austenitic stainless steel. In contrast, AS plasma nitriding at a high temperature (500 °C) resulted in chromium nitride precipitation so that the bulk of the nitrided case had very poor corrosion resistance. However, a thin deposition layer on top of the nitrided case, which seems to be unique to AS plasma nitriding, could have alleviated the corrosion attack of the higher temperature nitrided 316 steel.     

Corrosion behaviour of magnesium/aluminium alloys in 3.5 wt.% NaCl

Corrosion behaviour of commercial magnesium/aluminium alloys (AZ31, AZ80 and AZ91D) was investigated by electrochemical and gravimetric tests in 3.5 wt.% NaCl at 25 °C. Corrosion products were analysed by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and low-angle X-ray diffraction. Corrosion damage was mainly caused by formation of a Mg(OH)₂ corrosion layer. AZ80 and AZ91D alloys revealed the highest corrosion resistance. The relatively fine β-phase (Mg₁₇Al₁₂) network and the aluminium enrichment produced on the corroded surface were the key factors limiting progression of the corrosion attack. Preferential attack was located at the matrix/β-phase and matrix/MnAl intermetallic compounds interfaces.     

Electrochemical corrosion behaviour of nanotubular Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy in Ringer’s solution

Nanotubular oxide layer formation was achieved on biomedical grade Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy using anodization technique in 1 M H₃PO₄ + 0.5 wt.% NaF. The as-formed and heat treated nanotubes were characterized using SEM, XRD and TEM. Corrosion behaviour of the nanotubular alloy was investigated employing potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization. The alloy after nanotubular oxide layer formation exhibited significantly higher corrosion current density than the bare alloy. The lower corrosion resistance of the nanotubular alloy was suggested to be associated with the distinctly separated barrier oxide/concave shaped tube bottom interface. A heat treatment at 150 °C appreciably enhanced the corrosion resistance property.     

On the corrosion of binary magnesium-rare earth alloys

The corrosion properties of high-pressure die cast (HPDC) magnesium-rare earth (RE) based alloys have been studied. Binary additions of La, Ce and Nd to commercially pure Mg were made up to a nominal 6 wt.%. It was found that the intermetallic phases formed in the eutectic were Mg₁₂La, Mg₁₂Ce and Mg₃Nd, respectively. Results indicated that increasing RE alloying additions systematically increased corrosion rates. This was also described in the context of the electrochemical response of Mg-RE intermetallics - which were independently assessed by the electrochemical microcapillary technique.This study is a discrete effort towards revealing the electrochemical effect of carefully controlled binary alloying additions to magnesium in order to elucidate the microstructure-corrosion relationship more generally for HPDC Mg alloys. Such fundamental information is seen to not only be useful in understanding the corrosion of alloys which presently contain RE additions, but may be exploited in the design of magnesium alloys with more predictable corrosion behaviour. There is a special need to understand this relationship - particularly for magnesium that commonly displays poor corrosion resistance.     

Oxidation mechanism of a ZrB2–SiC–ZrC ceramic heated through high frequency induction at 1600 °C

In the present work, isothermal oxidation of a ZrB₂–(20 vol.%) SiC–(6 vol.%) ZrC (ZrB₂–SiC–ZrC) ceramic was carried out at a constant temperature of 1600 ± 15 °C in static air, and the microstructures of the surface and fractured surface of the oxidised specimen were observed using SEM. The change curve of weight change/unit area with increasing oxidation time was composed of four stages according to the increase in the oxidation time: initial, middle, middle-late and late. In the different stages, a mathematical model was formulated to interpret the oxidation behaviour of the ZrB₂–SiC–ZrC ceramic at high temperature.     

Hot corrosion of YSZ/Al2O3 dispersed NiCrAlY plasma-sprayed coatings in Na2SO4-10 wt.% NaCl melt

This study examines the effect of ytrria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) dispersion on hot corrosion behaviour of NiCrAlY bond coat. Hot corrosion studies were conducted on NiCrAlY and NiCrAlY containing 25, 50 and 75 wt.% YSZ coatings obtained through the air plasma spray technique, in Na₂SO₄ + 10 wt.% NaCl environment at 800 °C. The results show that YSZ dispersion lowers the overall hot corrosion tendency of the NiCrAlY, though it enhances the inherent hot corrosion tendency of its metallic constituent (NiCrAlY). Furthermore, there exists a threshold oxide level beyond which it adversely affects the hot corrosion of the coating.     

Structure, characterization and inhibition activity of new metal–organic framework

Brown crystals of the MOF [(AgCN)₄·(qox)₂], 1 were obtained by the reaction of AgNO₃, quinoxaline (qox) and KCN. The crystal structure of 1 consists of 1D-puckered AgCN chains which are connected by qox molecules forming 2D-fused deformed six-membered rings; [Ag₆ (CN)₄·(qox)₂] creating wide voids capable to accommodate the qox molecules. 3D-network structure is created via H-bonds, π–π stacking and Ag–Ag interaction. The MOF 1 was tested as corrosion inhibitor for C-steel in 1 M HCl solution using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance techniques. Adsorption of the MOF 1 obeyed Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Activation parameters were calculated and discussed.