Structural and Mechanical Characteristics of Anodic Oxide Films on Titanium
Oxide films were grown electrochemically on polycrystalline titanium in 0.1 M sulfuric acid (H2SO4) from open-circuit potential to a final potential of 9.4 V (vs silver-silver chloride [Ag-AgCl]) using three anodization rates: a step polarization, growth at 200 mV/s, and growth at 1 mV/s. Anodic polarization curves showed various degrees of oxygen evolution above 5.4 VAg-AgCl, indicating that the extent of oxide film breakdown depends on film growth rate, with slower growth rates undergoing more severe film breakdown. In-situ characterization of mechanical behavior of oxide films by nanoindentation revealed that the oxide film can sustain a tensile stress up to 2.5 GPa prior to film fracture. Among these three anodization rates, the oxide film formed by step polarization exhibited the highest film-strengthening effect. At applied potentials prior to oxide film breakdown, all films exhibited a strength of ≈1 GPa. The films ranged from amorphous titanium dioxide (TiO2) to anatase, with the extent of crystallization increasing with decreasing film growth rate. Correlations between electrochemical polarization, structural characteristics, and the mechanical behavior of these anodic films are discussed in relationship to electrostrictive stresses, which may lead to the breakdown of passive films. KEY WORDS: anodic polarization, films, nanoindentation, titanium, transmission electron microscopy.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 15010421
- Journal Information:
- Corrosion, 57(6):523-531, Vol. 57, Issue 6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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