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Intergranular corrosion of Ni-30Cr in high-temperature hydrogenated water after removing surface passivating film

Journal Article · · npj Materials Degradation
Abstract

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography are used to characterize the initial passivation and subsequent intergranular corrosion of degraded grain boundaries in a model Ni-30Cr alloy exposed to 360 °C hydrogenated water. Upon initial exposure for 1000 h, the alloy surface directly above the grain boundary forms a thin passivating film of Cr 2 O 3 , protecting the underlying grain boundary from intergranular corrosion. However, the metal grain boundary experiences severe Cr depletion and grain boundary migration during this initial exposure. To understand how Cr depletion affects further corrosion, the local protective film was sputtered away using a glancing angle focused ion beam. Upon further exposure, the surface fails to repassivate, and intergranular corrosion is observed through the Cr-depleted region. Through this combination of high-resolution microscopy and localized passive film removal, we show that, although high-Cr alloys are resistant to intergranular attack and stress corrosion cracking, degradation-induced changes in the underlying metal at grain boundaries make the material more susceptible once the initial passive film is breached.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division (MSE); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
2323593
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2417638
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA--184606; 25; PII: 442
Journal Information:
npj Materials Degradation, Journal Name: npj Materials Degradation Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 8; ISSN 2397-2106
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English

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