Corrosion Resistance, Composition, and Stratification of Passive Films: Ni-22Cr and Ni-22Cr-6Mo Alloys Passivated and Exposure Aged in Acidic Chloride Solutions

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Ni-Cr based super-alloys have exceptional corrosion resistance, which is further improved with Mo alloying. The correlation between passive layer performance and composition was studied to gain a deeper mechanistic understanding of the role of Mo by comparing the behavior of Ni-22Cr to Ni-22Cr-6Mo (wt%) alloys. The passive layers were formed using galvanostatic holds to create fast and slow growth conditions using high and low current densities. A potentiostatic hold was added to initiate exposure aging. The passive film was characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), atomic emission spectro-electrochemistry (AESEC), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Combined electrochemical and XPS characterization offered insight in cation concentrations and stratification, bonding states (oxide, hydroxide), and their modulation as a function of electrochemical conditions and performance. Most importantly: (i) Mo addition enhanced Cr(III) bound in oxide, (ii) fast growth conditions resulted in less corrosion resistant films, and (iii) exposure aging increased Cr-enrichment and reduced stratification of Mo-cations. The correlation between passive film performance and Cr, Ni, and Mo oxidation states, bonding, oxide-hydroxide contributions, and stratification is discussed. Generally accepted correlations, such as Cr-cation concentration and performance of the passive layer, have to be reexamined in order to account for the complex chemical make-up of the passive layer.