Abstract
The authors investigated the corrosion behavior of the C71640 copper-nickel alloy in seawater by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results from different initial and service conditions are presented and discussed in terms of the chemical and quantitative composition of the samples on the basis of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy binding energies and relative quantitative ratios for the main constituents of the alloy. The role played by the single constituent elements of the alloy in the overall corrosion behavior of the C71640 alloy in seawater is discussed. Significant manganese enrichment and nickel depletion in the surface layer of the as-received sample, before the corrosion tests, was found. Pickling in acid solutions and abrading result in loss of manganese from the surface. The alloy may undergo significant surface enrichment with iron, and to a lesser extent manganese, during seawater tests, depending on water chlorination or on applied potential values. The main oxidation products of the C71640 alloy in initial surface conditions were found to be Cu(OH)2, MnO2, and Ni2O3. After corrosion tests, MnO2 and Ni2O3 were still found, and Fe was always present as FeOOH. Cu, always in the oxidation state of +2, was present as hydroxide and/or chloride.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 404-410 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Corrosion |
| Volume | 48 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| State | Published - May 1992 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science
- Metals and Alloys