Nickel passivation, procedure

Oxidation can be viewed as the chemisorption of oxygen. For example, nickel and silicon are oxidized at ambient conditions. The resulting oxide layer is thermodynamically more stable and passivates the pure material below it. Another important example is the oxidation of aluminum which provides the metal with a very hard roughly 100 nm thick aluminum oxide (AI2O3) layer. To stabilize the aluminum surface even more and to passivate it against reactive chemicals the thickness of the oxide layer can be increased electrochemically. This procedure is called the eloxal process (efectrolytical oxidation of a/uminum). 

Another process of physical protection is the formation of an oxide layer that makes the metal passive. This procedure is used for aluminium. Aluminium is normally anodized in 10 per cent sulphuric acid with steel or copper cathodes until an oxide thickness of 10-100 pm is obtained. As the more superficial part of the oxide layer has a fairly open structure it is possible to deposit metals (cobalt, nickel, etc.) or organic pigments in the pores and seal with boiling water or with an alkaline solution. The colours after metallic deposition are due to interference effects. Chromic and oxalic acids are also used significantly as electrolyte. 

ASTM G 61 Standard Test Method for Conducting Potentiodynamic Polarization Measurements for Localized Corrosion Susceptibility of Iron-, Nickel-, or Cobalt-Based Alloys Provides information on conducting cyclic anodic polarization tests. Useful procedure for evaluating pitting and crevice corrosion susceptibility. Can be modified for other alloys that exhibit passive behavior. 

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