Electrochemical behavior of anodized Mg alloy AZ91D in chloride containing aqueous solution

Electrochemical behavior in aerated 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution of Mg alloy AZ91D anodized or not has been investigated by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization and E_corr-t curve. Their microstructures before and after corrosion have been examined under scanning electron microscope. Testing results from E_corr-t and polarization curves indicate that the corrosion behavior of Mg alloy makes significant, characteristic changes due to anodization. Impedance spectra obtained show a regular evolution with exposure time revealing the development of corrosion damage. SEM micrographs confirm that there are pores, defects and microcracks in anodic film which determine the existence of film-vulnerable regions. Electrochemical data are combined with micrographs to explain protection mechanism of anodic film and corrosion mechanism of Mg alloy.     

Effect of Si addition to CrN coatings on the corrosion resistance of CrN/stainless steel coating/substrate system in a deaerated 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution

CrSiN coatings with different Si concentration (Si/(Cr + Si) ratio: 0, 3.7, 11.7, 20%) were deposited on stainless steel substrates using a closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering (CFUBM) system. The variation in the microstructure of the films with the Si concentration was measured by XRD. The corrosion behavior of the CrSiN coatings in a deaerated 3.5% NaCl solution was investigated by potentiodynamic tests, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and surface analyses. The microstructure of the CrSiN film was found to depend on the Si concentration. The results of the potentiodynamic polarization tests showed that the corrosion current density and porosity decreased with increasing Si/(Cr + Si) ratio. The EIS measurements showed that the corrosion resistance of the Si-bearing CrN was improved by the phase transformation of the film, which led to an increase in the pore resistance and charge transfer resistance. The Si-bearing CrN possesses the best corrosion resistance at a Si/(Cr + Si) ratio of 20%, measured by the maximization of the pore resistance and charge transfer resistance.     

Study on the anodic film formation process of AZ91D magnesium alloy

The formation of anodic film of AZ91D magnesium alloy has been investigated by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry, anodic polarization curve, current-time transients and SEM technique. The results show that, under our experimental conditions, the formation of AZ91D anodic film follows the mechanism of 3D nucleation with diffusion controlled growth. With the increase of applied anodizing potential, the nucleation type of anodic film changes from progressive to instantaneous. The results also show that the initially formed anodized film is threadlike and porous, and high potential is essential for the formation of good anodic film with excellent properties.     

氧化铝增强无机硅酸锌涂层的电化学阻抗谱研究

无机硅酸锌涂层是一种广泛使用的钢铁重防腐涂层。采用在涂料填料中加入氧化铝的方法可以得到具有更好耐磨性能的富锌涂层。本实验研究利用电化学阻抗谱法(EIS)研究了氧化铝的加入对涂层腐蚀防护性能的影响,结果表明氧化铝颗粒的加入使涂层的腐蚀防护性能略有提高。     

Effect of Zn and Pb as alloying elements on the electrochemical behavior of brass in NaCl solutions

The electrochemical behavior of brasses with various Zn content (5.5–38 mass%) and brass (Cu–38Zn) with different Pb contents (1–3.4 mass%) in 0.6 M NaCl was investigated. The effects of temperature, immersion time, and concentration of chloride ions on the behavior of the different alloys were studied. The pitting corrosion behavior of Cu–Zn alloys and leaded–brass alloys in 0.6 M NaCl solution was also investigated. Open-circuit potential measurements (OCP), polarization techniques and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used. The results show that the increase in the Zn content increases the corrosion rate of the brass alloys in chloride solutions, while the increase of Pb content in Cu–38Zn–Pb decreases the corrosion rate of the alloy. Long immersion time of the alloys in the aqueous electrolyte improves their stability due to the formation of passive film on the alloy surface. The breakdown potential is shifted to more negative direction with increasing the Zn content, whereas it shifts towards positive values with increasing Pb content. Equivalent circuit model for the electrode/electrolyte interface under different conditions was proposed to illustrate the electrochemical processes taking place at the interface. The electrochemical behavior of the different alloys was discussed in view of the fitting results.     

Study on corrosion resistance and roughness of micro-plasma oxidation ceramic coatings on Ti alloy by EIS technique

Micro-plasma oxidation (MPO) technique has been developed quickly in recent years. The produced ceramic coatings are reported to possess fine properties and promising application prospects in many fields. The aim of this work is to study the corrosion resistance and the roughness of the micro-plasma oxidation ceramic coatings on Ti alloy by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. Compound ceramic coatings were prepared on Ti-6Al-4V alloy by pulsed bi-polar micro-plasma oxidation in NaAlO₂ solution. The phase composition and element distribution in the coating were investigated by X-ray diffractometry and electron probe micro-analyzer. EIS of the coatings was measured through CHI604 electrochemical analyzer in 3.5% NaCl solution. The ceramic coating is composed of a large amount of Al₂TiO₅ and a little α-Al₂O₃ and rutile TiO₂. The coating is of double-layer structure with the loose outer layer and the dense inner layer. The thickness of the coatings is reduced when the working frequency or the cathode pulse current density is increased, while the thickness is increased when the frequency or the anode current density is increased. The established “equivalent circuit” of the coatings is consistent with the double-layer structure. The electric charge transfer resistance (R_t) in the equivalent circuit can be used to assess the corrosion resistance of the coatings, which is consistent with the result of the polarizing curves test. And the empirical exponent (n₁) of the constant phase element (Q₁) in the equivalent circuit can be used to assess the surface roughness of the coatings, which is consistent with the surface SEM analysis of the coatings.     

Characterization of conducting poly(3‐methylthiophene) films prepared under sono‐electrochemical conditions

Poly(3‐methlthiophene) films were prepared under “silent” and “sono‐electrochemical” potentiostatic (SEP) conditions. A three‐electrode one‐compartment sono‐cell was used with a working platinum disc electrode. The sono‐electrochemically formed polymer films were deposited with different working electrode‐to‐horn distances. The composition, electrochemical, spectroscopic, and morphological characteristics of the resulting polymer films were determined. Elemental analysis, FTIR‐spectra, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data proved that the polymer films prepared under SEP conditions have predominant α‐α′‐couplings between the 3MT units, and the aromatic ring integrity is maintained in the film. Scanning electron microscopy showed that those films are more compact and less porous compared to the films prepared under silent conditions. The use of sono‐irradiation during electropolymerization enhanced the diffusion of the monomer units towards the electrode surface and resulted in relatively less doped polymers with less conductivity. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data for films prepared under silent and SEP conditions were collected in a monomer‐free solution. The results show that the impedance of SEP films is relatively higher than those prepared under silent conditions, and a combination of charge transfer kinetics with diffusion‐controlled conduction mechanism within the films. The diffusion was found to be a function of the porosity of the film. Conductivity measurements are in good agreement with EIS, elemental analysis, and XPS data. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 2416–2425, 2006     

Comparative electrochemical studies of zinc chromate and zinc phosphate as corrosion inhibitors for zinc

The anticorrosive performance of two inhibitive pigments, zinc chromate and zinc phosphate, was compared using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) in pigment extracts in 0.1 M NaCl. It was observed that zinc was protected from corrosion in both extracts. In tests using hot dip galvanised steel painted with an epoxy primer incorporating the pigments, the SVET detected the anodic and cathodic distribution along the scribes, although no significant differences were observed among the various primers. On the contrary, EIS was able to distinguish processes occurring on the metal surface exposed by the scribe in different samples. For primers with anticorrosive pigment, a time constant at high frequencies was attributed to a layer of protective nature, probably formed by metal ions from the substrate and inhibitive ions leached from the anticorrosive pigments.     

Electrochemical anticorrosion performance evaluation of Al2O3 coatings deposited by MOCVD on an industrial brass substrate

Alumina (Al₂O₃) coatings of different thickness were deposited on OT59 brass substrate (BS) using the metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) technique to evaluate the corrosion performance by EIS measurements. The used precursor was dimethyl-aluminium-isopropoxide. Electrochemical characterizations of the deposited films were performed in a standard very aggressive acidic solution (aerated 1N H₂SO₄ at 25 °C up to 168 h of immersion time) by means of direct current method (Tafel curves) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) indicated that the films are very pure with the correct Al₂O₃ stoichiometry, while the IR absorption spectra showed that the films did not contain any OH groups. The surface film morphology was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and displayed a globular texture. The films were very smooth, with a maximum root mean square roughness, for example, of 14 nm for a 0.96 μm thick coating. The EIS data confirmed, as expected, that a 2.40 μm Al₂O₃ layer ensures the best corrosion protection after 168 h of immersion in the very acidic environment used.     

Weight loss, polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, SEM and EDX studies of the corrosion inhibition of copper in aerated NaCl solutions

This work reports results of weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization and impedance measurements on the corrosion inhibition of copper in aerated non-stirred 3% NaCl solutions in the temperature range 15–65 °C using sodium oleate (SO) as an anionic surfactant inhibitor. These studies have shown that SO is a very good ”green”, mixed-type inhibitor. The inhibition process was attributed to the formation of an adsorbed film on the metal surface that protects the metal against corrosive agents. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersion X-ray (EDX) observations of the electrode surface confirmed the existence of such an adsorbed film. The inhibition efficiency increases with increasing surfactant concentration and time of immersion, while it decreases with solution temperature. Maximum inhibition efficiency of the surfactant is observed at concentrations around its critical micellar concentration (CMC). The potential of zero charge (pzc) of copper was studied by ac impedance, and the mechanism of adsorption is discussed. The sigmoidal shape of the adsorption isotherm confirms the applicability of Frumkin’s equation to describe the adsorption process. Thermodynamic functions for the adsorption process were determined.