Mechanical and corrosion behaviour of a Ti‐Al‐Nb alloy after deformation at elevated temperatures

The mechanical properties of Ti6Al7Nb alloy deformed and heat treated at elevated temperatures were correlated with its microstructure and corrosion behaviour in Ringer (of different pH values: 2.49, 6.9 and 8.9) and Ringer–Brown solutions. Microstructural analysis revealed a Widmanstatten structure for the alloys deformed at 1100 °C (β field) and structure with α grains at 930 °C (α + β field). The thermo‐mechanical processing improved the electrochemical behaviour of Ti6Al7Nb alloys, especially their passive state. Open circuit potential variations in time reflected more compact, stable, resistant passive films on the surface of the treated alloys. Open circuit potential gradients simulating the non‐uniformities of pH along the implant surface have very low values that cannot generate galvanic corrosion. Corrosion rates and ion release are very much reduced. Impedance spectra were fitted with a two time‐constants equivalent circuit for some alloys and with three time‐constants equivalent circuit for other alloys.     

Electrochemical corrosion behavior of Al–Si alloy composites reinforced with in situ TiB2 particulate

Understanding the corrosion behavior of TiB_2p‐reinforced aluminum matrix composites is crucial for their development as effective composites. In this work, corrosion characteristics of in situ TiB₂ particulate reinforced Al–Si alloy (A356) composite after T6 treatment are investigated by electrochemical techniques. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) reveals that the protection of nature film for the composites is worse than that for A356 alloy. Polarization experiments testify that the composites are susceptible to corrosion compared with their matrix alloys. Moreover, the corrosion resistance of the composites markedly decreases with increase in the TiB₂ content. The observations of the corrosion morphologies after polarization test show that the corrosion primarily occurs at the interdendritic sites with a large amount of TiB₂ particulates. Corrosion progress continues into the composite inner along the regions of α‐Al dendrite. The poor corrosion resistant properties of the composites are considered primarily due to the galvanic corrosion between noble TiB₂ reinforcements and more active aluminum matrix, as well as the weak protection of the defective nature film on the composite.     

Morphology of corrosion products of steel in concrete under macro‐cell and self‐corrosion conditions

In this paper investigations into the formation of specific corrosion products during the process of chloride induced corrosion of steel in concrete are presented. The extension of corrosion products within concrete was established by means of X‐ray tomography analyses. Then a detailed analysis of the nature of corrosion products has been conducted by means of Raman micro‐spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Results emphasize two different corrosion patterns. The first one is composed of shallow cavities, where mostly magnetite and goethite were identified, traducing aerated to moderate aerated conditions in these media. The second pattern was identified as deep, needle‐like pits, where chlorinated‐iron‐oxides phases were present associated with more or less important chloride enrichments. The presence of these particular species is indicating low redox and low pH conditions within these pits.     

Exfoliation corrosion and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of an Al‐Li alloy in EXCO solution

The exfoliation corrosion and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of an Al‐2.8%Cu‐1.5%Li‐0.3%Mg‐0.3%Zn‐0.3%Mn‐0.15%Zr alloy with various aging states in EXCO solution were investigated. The equilibrium precipitates at grain boundaries are anodic to the alloy base at their adjacent periphery. With prolonging aging time, the amount and the size of the equilibrium precipitates at grain boundaries are increased, resulting in an enhanced susceptibility to exfoliation corrosion. At the beginning of immersion in EXCO solution, the EIS plot of the alloys is composed of a capacitive arc in the high frequency range and an inductive loop in the low frequency range. As immersion time is increased, two capacitive arcs appear in the high‐mediate and mediate‐low frequency ranges respectively and the appearance time of two capacitive arcs could be an indication of the speed of localized corrosion development in EXCO solution. The longer appearance time of two capacitive arcs of the under‐aged alloy indicates its slower localized corrosion development.     

Influence of sintering on the corrosion behavior of a Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy

This work studies the influence of the sintering conditions of a Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy on its corrosion performance. The alloy was vacuum sintered in different conditions of time and temperature. The density and microstructure (designating phase distribution) are evaluated. Corrosion resistance through electrochemical techniques (EIS) in 2 N and 6 N hydrochloric acid solutions, and oxidation resistance at 900, 1000 and 1100°C are appraised, and corrosion is studied by microstructural and X‐ray diffraction.     

钛合金表面激光重熔NiCrBSi+TiN涂层的组织研究

对TC4合金喷涂NiCrBSi+20vol%TiN涂层进行激光重熔试验,利用SEM、TEM等手段对熔覆层的组织进行了分析。结果表明,激光重熔层组织消除了喷涂层的组织缺陷,其相组成为(Cr-Ni-Fe),TiNi,NiB,Cr2Ti,Ti2Ni等,在熔覆区主要以富铬相和富镍相为主,稀释区内的黑色和白色衬度的杆状组织是Ti2Ni型的金属间化合物。     

In vitro corrosion behaviour of Ti‐5Al‐2Nb‐1Ta alloy in Hanks solution

Electrochemical polarization and impedance spectroscopic (EIS) techniques were used to investigate the corrosion behavior of Ti‐5Al‐2Nb‐1Ta alloy in Hanks solution at different immersion periods (0 h, 120 h, 240 h and 360 h). The impedance spectra are fitted using a non‐linear least square (NLLS) fitting procedure. The EIS spectra exhibited a two time constant system, suggesting the formation of two layers on the metal surface. The surface morphology of the alloy has been characterized by SEM and EDAX measurements.     

Influence of microstructural changes on corrosion behaviour of thermally aged Ti‐6Al‐7Nb alloy

Solution treatment and ageing (STA) is an effective strengthening method for α + β titanium alloys. This paper reports the effect of solution treatment and aging on the corrosion behaviour of Ti‐6Al‐7Nb alloy in a simulated body fluid (Ringer's solution). Ti‐6Al‐7Nb alloy is hot rolled in the α + β field and subjected to solution treatment above and below its beta transus temperature (1283 K). The solution treated specimens are water quenched (WQ), air‐cooled (AC), and furnace cooled (FC) at three different rates, and subsequently aged at 823 K for 4 h. Microstructural changes were examined using optical microscopy and phases developed were analyzed using XRD. The influence of microstructure on the corrosion performance of the alloys are discussed in detail based on the Open Circuit Potential (OCP), passive current density and area of repassivation loop values obtained from the cyclic polarization study in Ringer's solution. The passive current density was low (0.5 μA/cm²) for the specimen with duplex microstructure obtained for specimen solution treated at 1223 K, air‐cooled, and aged, in comparison with that for as‐rolled specimen (1.5 μA/cm²). The corrosion aspects resulting from various heat treatments are discussed in detail.     

Microstructural characteristics and corrosion property of non‐chromate surface treatments on AZ91D magnesium alloy

Chromate conversion coatings can be successfully used for corrosion protection of magnesium alloys. However, the environmental laws have imposed severe restrictions on chromate use in many countries. In this study, a novel protective environmental‐functionally gradient coating was formed on AZ91D magnesium alloy by non‐chromate surface treatments, which consisted of pre‐etching followed by cerium‐based chemical conversion before applying the sol–gel CeO₂ film. It was determined by the analysis of X‐ray diffraction that the gradient coating was mainly composed of CeO₂. The calculation, based on the Scherrer formula, further revealed the formation of nanocrystalline structure in the coating. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations showed that the coating was homogeneous and compact, no obvious cracked structure occurred. According to the immersion tests, potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests, the corrosion resistance of AZ91D magnesium alloy was found to be greatly improved by means of this novel environmental‐functionally gradient coating.     

Improving corrosion resistance of Al‐11mass%Si alloy through a large number of ECAP passes

Ultrafine‐grained (UFG) Al‐11mass%Si alloy, processed by multi‐pass equal‐channel angular pressing (ECAP) at 573 K, was investigated on corrosion behavior in 0.6 M NaCl solution. Potentiodynamic polarization tests and scanning electron microscopy observation showed that a large number of ECAP passes resulted in lower corrosion current density, more positive corrosion potential, and rather smooth corroded surface with shallow corrosion pits. The uniform distribution of fine secondary‐phase particles on UFG Al matrix weakened the susceptibility to pitting corrosion while inhibited general microgalvanic reactions. The present results indicate that grain refinement of aluminum matrix to the UFG state and uniform redistribution of broken particles (including eutectic silicon and secondary phases), via severe plastic deformation at elevated temperature undergoing dynamic recrystallization, can significantly improve the corrosion resistance of Al alloys, besides the known exceptional mechanical advantages. The simple and effective ECAP procedure makes UFG Al alloys more attractive for high strength structural application in corrosive environment.     

A novel Al–Ti–B alloy for grain refining Al–Si foundry alloys

Al–Ti–B refiners with excess-Ti (Ti:B > 2.2) perform adequately for wrought aluminium alloys but they are not as efficient in the case of foundry alloys. Silicon, which is abundant in the latter, forms silicides with Ti and severely impairs the potency of TiB₂ and Al₃Ti particles. Hence, Al–Ti–B alloys with excess-B (Ti:B < 2.2) and binary Al–B alloys are favored to grain refine hypoeutectic Al–Si alloys. These grain refiners rely on the insoluble (Al,Ti)B₂ or AlB₂ particles for grain refinement, and thus do not enjoy the growth restriction provided by solute Ti. It would be very attractive to produce excess-B Al–Ti–B alloys which additionally contain Al₃Ti particles to maximize their grain refining efficiency for aluminium foundry alloys. A powder metallurgy process was employed to produce an experimental Al–3Ti–3B grain refiner which contains both the insoluble AlB₂ and the soluble Al₃Ti particles. Inoculation of a hypoeutectic Al–Si foundry alloy with this grain refiner has produced a fine equiaxed grain structure across the entire section of the test sample which was more or less retained for holding times up to 15 min.