Passive film and surface characterization of Alx(CoCrFeNi)100-x (x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20) high entropy alloys

• Published in: Intermetallics Vol. 162; p. 107994
• Main Authors: Gu, Xin-Hui, Li, Xin-Ran, Zhang, Qin-Hao, Wu, Lian-Kui, Cao, Fa-He
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Corrosion resistance; High entropy alloys; Passive film; Semiconductor characteristic; High entropy alloys; Corrosion resistance; Passive film; Semiconductor characteristic
• ISSN: 0966-9795; 1879-0216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intermet.2023.107994

The current research on the corrosion resistance of high entropy alloys (HEAs), mainly focuses on the influence of element composition and percentage difference. Considering the almost consistent passivation range with different corrosion resistance contributed by element addition, it inevitably exists obvious differences the passive film properties. The effect of passive film on corrosion behavior of HEA is worthy to be investigated in detail. Considering the microstructure transformation detected by electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) and surface feedback effect measured by approach curve of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), the passivity of Alx(CoCrFeNi)100-x (x = 0–20) HEAs in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution has been investigated by cyclic potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Mott-Schottky analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results demonstrate that the passive film is thick and dense at low Al content (5%), which shows excellent corrosion resistance. However, with the increase of Al content, the corrosion resistance of passive film deteriorates gradually. XPS are adopted to detect film composition to explain the reason of film property change. The results suggest that there are more oxidized states of Al and less oxidized states of Cr in the passive film of HEAs with Al addition. The dominate semiconductor characteristics of Alx(CoCrFeNi)100-x with Al addition change from p-type to n-type. All results indicate that the addition of Al has a significantly influence on the composition and properties of passive film on the Alx(CoCrFeNi)100-x alloys surface. •The corrosion resistance and semiconductor characterization of passive film on Alx(CoCrFeNi)100-x was studied.•The phase constituents of Alx(CoCrFeNi)100-x change from single FCC phase to BCC phases as more Al is being added.•A small amount of Al without phase transformation is beneficial to stabilize a thick and compact passive film.•The passive film semiconductor characteristic of Alx(CoCrFeNi)100-x with Al addition is predominant from p-type to n-type.