PITTING CORROSION IN EROSIVE CONDITION OF AGED 550°C CU10NI-3AL-1,3FE ALLOY IN 0,01 M NA2 SO4

Abstract

This study evaluates the effect of aging at 550°C on pitting corrosion of Cu10Ni-3Al-1.3Fe alloy, after potentiodynamic polarization test in 0.01 M Na2 SO4 in erosive condition. Cold rolled sheet specimens were solution treated at 900°C for 1 hour, and aged at 550°C until 1,032 hours. The investigation was carried out by potentiodynamic polarization in electrolyte consisted of 0.01 M Na2 SO4 with 10 wt. (%) of Al2 O3 abrasive particles. After the polarization tests, specimens were analyzed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques to examine the morphology of the corroded regions. Result show that all samples present a passivity break potential (Eq ) that characterizes the initiation of pitting corrosion. However, it is not observed any significant change in the value of passivity break potential as a function of aging time. The mechanism of pitting corrosion in the studied alloys can be the passivity breakdown by the action of sulfate ion, followed by growth of pit by galvanic action or dissolution of the copper in cupric and cuprous ions and membrane formation of cuprous oxide over the pit

Keywords

• Cupronickel alloys; Pitting corrosion; Erosion-corrosion.