Oxide film properties

Anodic oxide film properties depend upon ion concentration in acid chloride and in alkaline solutions films are more compact and crack-free in acid solution . Alloying with more than 47% of nickel gives good resistance to hydrogen embrittlement in potassium hydroxide solution . 

The dependence of the aluminium oxide film properties on the anodisation time was studied. Figure 23.10 shows the current-time transients during anodisation at the formation current density of 2.5 mA/cm. In the constant current... 

Changes in the rate-Umiting reaction mechanism due to changes in the oxide film properties. 

Hardness, plasticity Micrcstructure Indusions Surface roughness Oxide film properties Wear debris Material transfer... 

Shanthi E, Dutta V, Baneqee A and Chopra K L 1980 Electrical and optical properties of undoped and antimony-doped tin oxide films J. Appi. Rhys. 51 6243-51... 

Probably the most important powder property governing the formation of atomic bonds is the surface condition of the particles, especially with respect to the presence of oxide films. If heavy oxide layers are present, they must be penetrated by projections on the particles. This results in only local rather than widespread bonding. A ductile metal such as iron which has a heavy oxide layer may not form as strong or as many bonds as a less ductile metal. 

Niobium is used as a substrate for platinum in impressed-current cathodic protection anodes because of its high anodic breakdown potential (100 V in seawater), good mechanical properties, good electrical conductivity, and the formation of an adherent passive oxide film when it is anodized. Other uses for niobium metal are in vacuum tubes, high pressure sodium vapor lamps, and in the manufacture of catalysts. 

Table 3. Typical Physical Properties of Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Film...

Optical Properties. The index of refraction and extinction coefficient of vacuum-deposited aluminum films have been reported (8,9) as have the total reflectance at various wavelengths and emissivity at various temperatures (10). Emissivity increases significantly as the thickness of the oxide film on aluminum increases and can be 70—80% for oxide films of 100 nm. 

BM Structure, composition, and properties should be similar and (4) the FM-containing elements should be able to bring about chemical reduction/decomposition or physical removal of BM oxide film. 

Corrosion Resistance. Zirconium is resistant to corrosion by water and steam, mineral acids, strong alkaUes, organic acids, salt solutions, and molten salts (28) (see also Corrosion and corrosion control). This property is attributed to the presence of a dense adherent oxide film which forms at ambient temperatures. Any break in the film reforms instantly and spontaneously in most environments. 

Borides are inert toward nonoxidizing acids however, a few, such as Be2B and MgB2, react with aqueous acids to form boron hydrides. Most borides dissolve in oxidizing acids such as nitric or hot sulfuric acid and they ate also readily attacked by hot alkaline salt melts or fused alkaU peroxides, forming the mote stable borates. In dry air, where a protective oxide film can be preserved, borides ate relatively resistant to oxidation. For example, the borides of vanadium, niobium, tantalum, molybdenum, and tungsten do not oxidize appreciably in air up to temperatures of 1000—1200°C. Zirconium and titanium borides ate fairly resistant up to 1400°C. Engineering and other properties of refractory metal borides have been summarized (1). 

Alloys having varying degrees of corrosion resistance have been developed in response to various environmental needs. At the lower end of the alloying scale are the low alloy steels. These are kon-base alloys containing from 0.5—3.0 wt % Ni, Cr, Mo, or Cu and controlled amounts of P, N, and S. The exact composition varies with the manufacturer. The corrosion resistance of the alloy is based on the protective nature of the surface film, which in turn is based on the physical and chemical properties of the oxide film. As a rule, this alloying reduces the rate of corrosion by 50% over the fkst few years of atmosphere exposure. Low alloy steels have been used outdoors with protection. 

Because oxides are usually quite brittle at the temperatures encountered on a turbine blade surface, they can crack, especially when the temperature of the blade changes and differential thermal contraction and expansion stresses are set up between alloy and oxide. These can act as ideal nucleation centres for thermal fatigue cracks and, because oxide layers in nickel alloys are stuck well to the underlying alloy (they would be useless if they were not), the crack can spread into the alloy itself (Fig. 22.3). The properties of the oxide film are thus very important in affecting the fatigue properties of the whole component. 

Although insulators other than aluminum oxide have been tried, aluminum is still used almost universally because it is easy to evaporate and forms a limiting oxide layer of high uniformity. To be restricted, therefore, to adsorption of molecules on aluminum oxide might seem like a disadvantage of the technique, but aluminum oxide is very important in many technical fields. Many catalysts are supported on alumina in various forms, as are sensors, and in addition the properties of the oxide film on aluminum metal are of the greatest interest in adhesion and protection. 

Bianchi, G., Corguetti, A., Mazza, F. and Torchio, S., Electronic Properties of Oxide Films and Pitting Susceptibility of Type 304 Stainless Steel , Corros. Sci., 12, 495 (1972) Szkiarska-Smialowska, Z. and Mankowski, J., Effect of Temperature on the Kinetics of... 

The majority of metals and alloys available depend for their resistance to corrosion on the properties of an oxide film or corrosion product which is formed initially by the corrosion process. In many cases the protectiveness of the oxide film is determined by its stability in aqueous solutions in a specific pH range, either chemically dissolving to form aquocations at lower pH values or complex anions (aluminate, ferroate, plumbate, zincate, etc.) at higher pH values (Fig. 2.22). An important property of the chemical is therefore the pH value that it develops when dissolved in water. For many materials and many chemicals this is the overriding factor and in many cases... 

The high-chromium irons undoubtedly owe their corrosion-resistant properties to the development on the surface of the alloys of an impervious and highly tenacious film, probably consisting of a complex mixture of chromium and iron oxides. Since the chromium oxide will be derived from the chromium present in the matrix and not from that combined with the carbide, it follows that a stainless iron will be produced only when an adequate excess (probably not less than 12% of chromium over the amount required to form carbides is present. It is commonly held, and with some theoretical backing, that carbon combines with ten times its own weight of chromium to produce carbides. It has been said that an increase in the silicon content increases the corrosion resistance of the iron this result is probably achieved because the silicon refines the carbides and so aids the development of a more continuous oxide film over the metal surface. It seems likely that the addition of molybdenum has a similar effect, although it is possible that the molybdenum displaces some chromium from combination with the carbon and therefore increases the chromium content of the ferrite. 

It is somewhat less corrosion resistant than tantalum, and like tantalum suffers from hydrogen embrittlement if it is made cathodic by a galvanic couple or an external e.m.f., or is exposed to hot hydrogen gas. The metal anodises in acid electrolytes to form an anodic oxide film which has a high dielectric constant, and a high anodic breakdown potential. This latter property coupled with good electrical conductivity has led to the use of niobium as a substrate for platinum-group metals in impressed-current cathodic-protection anodes. 

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