Characteristics and formation of corrosion product films of 70Cu-30Ni alloy in seawater

The corrosion product films of 70Cu-30Ni alloy, composed of recrystallized grains or deformed and recrystallized grains, were investigated in 3.5% NaCl and natural seawater by electrochemical techniques, SEM, EDX and AES. The recrystallized alloy displayed a steady increase in the polarization resistance while the alloy of incomplete recrystallization kept its polarization resistance at a low level as increasing the immersion time in 3.5% NaCl. The films formed on the recrystallized alloy in seawater were thin, uniform and rich in nickel. After long-term immersion, the films, still thin and protective, consisted of convex lines and smooth zones between the lines. The convex lines were richer in nickel and contained more seawater species than the zones, so this led the lines to preferentially dissolve and new lines to appear where the film grew slower. Immersed in seawater, the alloy of incomplete recrystallization showed thick, loose and porous films, of which the inner layer was denickelified and the outer layer contained a great amount of seawater species, and of which the underlying substrate was found with severe intergranular corrosion. The tube specimens of incomplete recrystallization for four-year immersion were perforated by intergranular corrosion.