Nickel-chromium steels, anodic polarization

The properties of the interface metal/solution. Cast iron corrodes because of exposure of its graphite to the surface (graphitic corrosion), which is cathodic to both low-alloy and mild steels. The trim of a valve must always maintain dimensional accuracy and be free of pitting and hence it should stay cathodic to the valve body. Hence, in aggressive media, valve bodies are frequently chosen of steel rather than cast iron. Because of increased anodic polarization, low-alloy steel (Cr and Ni as noble components) is cathodic to normal steel in most natural media. Accordingly, steel bolts and nuts coupled to underground mild steel pipes, or a weld rod used for steel plates on the hull of a ship, should always be of a low-nickel, low chromium steel or from a similar composition to that of the steel pipe.7... 

The anodic polarization of a given alloy base metal such as iron or nickel is sensitive to alloying element additions and to heat treatments if the latter influences the homogeneity of solid solutions or the kinds and distribution of phases in the alloy. The effect of chromium in iron or nickel is to decrease both EpP and icrit and hence to enhance the ease of placing the alloy in the passive state. The addition of chromium to iron is the basis for a large number of alloys broadly called stainless steels, and chromium additions to nickel lead to a series of alloys with important corrosion-resistant properties. 

The effect of pH on the polarization of iron is shown in Fig. 5.6. The effect ofpH on the polarization of type 304 stainless steel (nominally 18 to 20 wt% Cr, 8 to 10.5 wt%Ni, 0.08 wt% C maximum) in environments based on 1 M Na2SC>4 with additions of H2SO4 and NaOH to control the pH is shown in Fig. 5.31 (Ref 28). The influence of chromium and nickel in moving the anodic polarization curve of iron to lower current densities persists over the indicated pH range with the corrosion rates being very low for pH >4.0. 

A schematic summary of the alloying metals that affect the anodic polarization curve of stainless steel is shown in Fig. 4.16. The addition of 8% nickel to an alloy containing 18% chromium forms austenitic structure SS Type 304. The addition of Mn and N increases the stability of austenitic steel. The chromium content of stainless steel affects the anodic polarization curves as shown in Fig. 4.16. Nickel promotes repassivation in a corrosive environment, but concentrations higher than 30% reduces the passivation current, the critical current density, and increases the critical pitting potential. Nitrogen... 

Examples of metals that are passive under Definition 1, on the other hand, include chromium, nickel, molybdenum, titanium, zirconium, the stainless steels, 70%Ni-30% Cu alloys (Monel), and several other metals and alloys. Also included are metals that become passive in passivator solutions, such as iron in dissolved chromates. Metals and alloys in this category show a marked tendency to polarize anodicaUy. Pronounced anodic polarization reduces observed reaction rates, so that metals passive under Definition 1 usually conform as well to Definition 2 based on low corrosion rates. The corrosion potentials of metals passive by Definition 1 approach the open-circuit cathode potentials (e.g., the oxygen electrode) hence, as components of galvanic cells, they exhibit potentials near those of the noble metals. 

In acidic media, the metals iron, nickel and chromium have passivation current densities that increase in the order Cr < Ni < Fe. In Figure 6.11, the anodic polarization curves for the three metals in 0.5 M sulfuric acid (25 °C) are compared. Chromium has lower values of both ip and Ep than the other two metals. By alloying increasing amounts of chromium to steel one therefore improves the corrosion resistance. Experience shows that above a chromium concentration of 12 to 13%, a steel passivates spontaneously in contact with aerated water. It becomes "stainless", meaning it does not rust easily. Figure 6.12 gives the corrosion potential of different... 

For example, in experiments on chromium-nickel steel plasticization by means of anodic polarization within the region of passive state potentials, it obviously prevails over possible manifestations of the barrier effect [53]. A linear dependence of hardness loss on the logarithm current density has been established over all the ranges of active and passive state potentials (Fig. 9.2). This points to the predominant role of chemomechanical effect despite the formation of passive film which is transparent for dislocations. 

The electrolytic corrosion test was designed for electrodeposits of principally nickel and chromium on less noble metals, such as zinc or steel. Special solutions are used, and the metal is polarized to -1-0.3 V versus the SCE. The metal is taken through cycles of 1 min anodically polarized and 2 min unpolarized. An indicator solution is then used to detect the presence of pits that penetrate to the substrate. Each exposure cycle simulates 1 year of exposure under atmospheric-corrosion conditions. The ASTM standard B 627 describes the method in greater detail. 

Anodic polarization of active/passive metals - alloys of nickel, iron, chromium, titanium, and stainless steel in weak-to-extiemely corrosive environments, where economy in consumption of protective currents is required. 

Active-passive behavior is dependent on the material-corrodent combination and is a function of the anodic or cathodic polarization effects, which occur in that specific combination. In most situations where active-passive behavior occurs, there is a thin layer at the metal surface that is more resistant to the environment than the underlying metal. In stainless steels, this layer is composed of various chromium and/or nickel oxides, which exhibit substantially different electrochemical characteristics than the underlying alloy. If this resistant, or passive, layer is damaged while in an aggressive environment, active corrosion of the freshly exposed surface will occur. The damage to... 

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