Comparative behavior of titanium and zirconium in hydrofluoric-nitric acid pickling solutions

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Corrosion (Houston); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5006/1.3585144· OSTI ID:6021376

Sutter, E M.M.; Hlawka, F; Cornet, A ^[1]

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1. Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts et Industries de Strasbourg, 24 Boulvard de la Victoire, F-67000 Strasbourg (FR)

The different behavior of titanium and zirconium in HF-HNO{sub 3} pickling solutions has been studied using electrochemical methods and Raman spectrometry. In each case, the depleting of the solutions during a pickling experiment could be correlated with the consumption of HF to form metal oxo or oxofluoro complexes. However, the mechanism of metal dissolution is quite different for the two metals. The titanium dissolution process in such solutions can be interpreted using a passivation model in which dissolution and passivation are two competing reactions at the surface of the bare metal. On the other hand, zirconium dissolution occurs through formation of an oxide film with ionic diffusion through the film being a rate-determining step. The particular role of strong acid added to the HF solution for pickling of titanium and zirconium is also discussed.

• OSTI ID: 6021376
• Journal Information: Corrosion (Houston); (USA), Journal Name: Corrosion (Houston); (USA) Vol. 46:7; ISSN 0010-9312; ISSN CORRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360205* -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Corrosion & Erosion
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
400400 -- Electrochemistry
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CORROSION
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CORROSION
ELEMENTS
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
KINETICS
METALS
NITRIC ACID
REACTION KINETICS
TITANIUM
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ZIRCONIUM