Susceptibility to Pitting Corrosion of Ti-CP2, Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo, and Ti-6Al-4V Alloys for Aeronautical Applications

Corrosion Behavior of Passivated Martensitic and Semi-Austenitic Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel

This research aimed to conduct a passive layer state study on martensitic and semi-austenitic precipitation hardening stainless steels (PHSS) passivated in citric acid and nitric acid baths at 49 and 70 °C for 50 and 75 min and subsequently exposed in 5 wt.% NaCl and 1 wt.% H2SO4 solutions. Corrosion behavior of the passivated material was observed by using potentiodynamic polarization (PP) according to the ASTM G5-11 standard. The microstructural analysis was performed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while the passivated layer was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that the semi-austenitic-NA-50 min-70 °C sample showed the best corrosion resistance behavior in both solutions. The XPS characterization confirmed that the martensitic and semi-austenitic surface film presented a mixture of chemical compounds, such as Cr2O3 and Fe(OH)O, respectively.

Corrosion Behavior of Passivated CUSTOM450 and AM350 Stainless Steels for Aeronautical Applications

Custom 450 stainless steel and AM 350 stainless steel are both precipitation hardening stainless steels, which are widely used in a variety of aerospace applications. The former steel exhibits very good corrosion resistance with moderate strength, whereas the latter is used for applications requiring high strength along with corrosion resistance. In this study, the corrosion behavior of CUSTOM 450 and AM 350 stainless steels passivated in (a) citric acid and (b) nitric acid solutions for 50 and 75 min at 49 and 70 °C, and subsequently exposed in 5 wt. % NaCl and 1 wt. % H2SO4 solutions are investigated. Two electrochemical techniques were used: electrochemical noise (EN) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) according to ASTM G199-09 and ASTM G106-13, respectively. The results indicated that passivation in nitric acid made the surface prone to localized corrosion. Statistical and PSD values showed a tendency toward pitting corrosion. On the whole, passivated CUSTOM 450 stainless steel showed the best corrosion behavior in both, NaCl and H2SO4 test solutions.

Electrochemical Corrosion of Titanium and Titanium Alloys Anodized in H2SO4 and H3PO4 Solutions

Titanium and its alloys have superior electrochemical properties compared to other alloy systems due to the formation of a protective TiO2 film on metal surfaces. The ability to generate the protective oxide layer will depend upon the type of alloy to be used. The aim of this work was to characterize the electrochemical corrosion behavior of titanium Ti-CP2 and alloys Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo, Ti-6Al-4V, and Ti Beta-C. Samples were anodized in 1 M H2SO4 and H3PO4 solutions with a current density of 0.025 A/cm2. Electrochemical tests on anodized alloys were carried out using a three-electrode cell and exposed in two electrolytes, i.e., 3.5 wt % NaCl and 3.5 wt % H2SO4 solutions at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the morphology of anodized surfaces. The electrochemical techniques used were cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP) and electrochemical noise (EN), based on the ASTM-G61 and G199 standards. Regarding EN, two methods of data analysis were used: the frequency domain (power spectral density, PSD) and time-frequency domain (discrete wavelet transform). For non-anodized alloys, the results by CCP and EN indicate icorr values of ×10−6 A/cm2. However, under anodizing conditions, the icorr values vary from ×10−7 to ×10−9 A/cm2. The PSD Ψ0 values are higher for non-anodized alloys, while in anodized conditions, the values range from −138/−122 dBi (A2·Hz−1)1/2 to −131/−180 dBi (A2·Hz−1)1/2. Furthermore, the results indicated that the alloys anodized in the H3PO4 bath showed an electrochemical behavior that can be associated with a more homogeneous passive layer when exposed to the 3.5 wt % NaCl electrolyte. Alloys containing more beta-phase stabilizers formed a less homogeneous anodized layer. These alloys are widely used in aeronautical applications; thus, it is essential that these alloys have excellent corrosion performance in chloride and acid rain environments.

Electrochemical Behaviour of Ti and Ti-6Al-4V Alloy in Phosphate Buffered Saline Solution

The electrochemical behavior of commercially pure titanium (CP Ti) and Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) alloy in phosphate buffered saline solution (PBS, pH = 7.4) at 37 °C (i.e., in simulated physiological solution in the human body) was examined using open circuit potential measurements, linear and potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods. After the impedance measurements and after potentiodynamic polarization measurements, the surface of the samples was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, while the elemental composition of oxide film on the surface of each sample was determined by EDS analysis. The electrochemical and corrosion behavior of CP Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloys is due to forming a two-layer model of surface oxide film, consisting of a thin barrier-type inner layer and a porous outer layer. The inner barrier layer mainly prevents corrosion of CP Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloy, whose thickness and resistance increase sharply in the first few days of exposure to PBS solution. With longer exposure times to the PBS solution, the structure of the barrier layer subsequently settles, and its resistance increases further. Compared to Ti-6Al-4V alloy, CP Ti shows greater corrosion stability.