Active-passive type alloys

Pitting corrosion is usually associated with active-passive-type alloys and occurs under conditions specific to each alloy and environment. This mode of localized attack is of major commercial significance since it can severely limit performance in circumstances where, otherwise, the corrosion rates are extremely low. Susceptible alloys include the stainless steels and related alloys, a wide series of alloys extending from iron-base to nickel-base, aluminum, and aluminum-base alloys, titanium alloys, and others of commercial importance but more limited in use. In all of these alloys, the polarization curves in most media show a rather sharp transition from active dissolution to a state of passivity characterized by low current density and, hence, low corrosion rate. As emphasized in Chapter 5, environments that maintain the corrosion potential in the passive potential range generally exhibit extremely low... 

The concepts in Chapters 2 and 3 are used in Chapter 4 to discuss the corrosion of so-called active metals. Chapter 5 continues with application to active/passive type alloys. Initial emphasis in Chapter 4 is placed on how the coupling of cathodic and anodic reactions establishes a mixed electrode or surface of corrosion cells. Emphasis is placed on how the corrosion rate is established by the kinetic parameters associated with both the anodic and cathodic reactions and by the physical variables such as anode/cathode area ratios, surface films, and fluid velocity. Polarization curves are used extensively to show how these variables determine the corrosion current density and corrosion potential and, conversely, to show how electrochemical measurements can provide information on the nature of a given corroding system. Polarization curves are also used to illustrate how corrosion rates are influenced by inhibitors, galvanic coupling, and external currents. 

Corrosion of Active-Passive Type Metals and Alloys... 

It will be shown later that the values of icrit, Epp, and ip, which are the important parameters defining the shape of the active-passive type of polarization curve, are important in understanding the corrosion behavior of the alloy. In particular, low values of icrit enhance the ability to place the alloy in the passive state in many environments. For this reason, the maximum that occurs in the curve at B (Fig. 5.4) is frequently referred to as the active peak current density or, in general discussion, as the active peak. It is the limit of the active dissolution current density occurring along the A region of the polarization curve. 

Reference has been made to the observation that both anionic and cationic species in the environment can influence the anodic polarization of active-passive types of metals and alloys. Specific examples have related to the effect of pH as it influences the stability and potential range of formation of oxide and related corrosion product films. The effect of pH, however, cannot be treated, even with single chemical species, independent of the accompanying anions. For example, chloride, sulfate, phosphate, and nitrate ions accompanying acids based on these ionic species will influence both the kinetics and thermodynamics of metal dissolution in addition to the effect of pH. Major effects may result if the anion either enhances or prevents formation of protective corrosion product films, or if an anion, both thermodynamically and kinetically, is an effective oxidizing species (easily reduced), then large changes in the measured anodic polarization curve will be observed. 

As with other active-passive-type metals and alloys, the pitting corrosion of aluminum and its alloys results from the local penetration of a passive oxide film in the presence of environments containing specific anions, particularly chloride ions. The oxide film is y-Al203 with a partially crystalline to amorphous structure (Ref 13, 59). The film forms rapidly on exposure to air and, therefore, is always present on initial contact with an aqueous environment. Continued contact with water causes the film to become partially hydrated with an increase in thickness, and it may become partially colloidal in character. It is uncertain as to whether the initial air-formed film essentially remains and the hydrated part of the film is a consequence of precipitated hydroxide or that the initial film is also altered. Since the oxide film has a high ohmic resistance, the rate of reduction of dissolved oxygen or hydrogen ions on the passive film is very small (Ref 60). 

A separate chapter, Chapter 5, is used to introduce the corrosion behavior of active/passive type metals. This allows emphasis on the more complex anodic polarization behavior of these metals and the associated problems in interpreting their corrosion behavior. The chapter is introduced by discussing experimental observations on the anodic polarization of iron as a function of pH and how these observations can be related qualitatively to the iron-water Pourbaix diagram. Pedagogically, it would be desirable to analyze the corrosion behaviors of active/passive metals by relating their anodic polarization curves to curves for cathodic reactions as was done in Chapter 4 for nonpassive alloys. Because of the extreme sensitivity of an experimental curve to the environment, a reasonably complete curve usually can only be inferred. To do so requires understanding of the forms of experimental curves that can be derived from individual anodic and cathodic polar-... 

FIG. 28-10 Six possible types of behavior for an active/passive alloy in a corrosive environment. 

Most often, it is the anodic polarization behavior that is useful in understanding alloy systems in various environments. Anodic polarization tests can be conducted with relatively simple equipment and the scans themselves can be done in a short period of time. They are extremely useful in studying the active-passive behavior that many materials exhibit. As the name suggests, these materials can exhibit both a highly corrosion-resistant behavior or that of a material that corrodes actively, while in the same corrodent. Metals that commonly exhibit this type of behavior include iron, titanium, aluminum, chromium, and nickel. Alloys of these materials are also subject to this type of behavior. 

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