Changes in the resistance to corrosion of thermally passivated titanium aluminide during exposure to sodium chloride solution

In this study the surface of Ti-47Al-2Cr (at. %) was modified by heating and exposure to nitrogen gas flow to form a predominantly oxide layer on the surface. Samples were then immersed in Ringer's solution and 3.5 wt. % sodium chloride solution and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests were performed at regular intervals. The results showed that the layer is highly resistant to corrosion. The equivalent circuit proposed for the impedance curves includes a Warburg element, because diffusion is controlling charge transfer through the passive surface layer. The resistance of the layer was not significantly reduced even after 300 h exposure to solutions and scanning electron micrographs showed the surface was not damaged. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.