Corrosion Behavior of U-Ti Alloy in Standard Salt Spray Environment

Abstract:

Corrosion behavior of U-Ti alloys in standard salt spray environment was investigated by laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The results show that U-Ti alloys presented heterogeneous corrosion in the environment and corrosion extend of the alloys was mainly affected by thickness of liquid film and exposure time. Pitting corrosion was the main corrosion type for initial corrosion behavior of U-Ti alloys and corrosion extend was more grievous with the increasing thickness of liquid film and longer exposure time. Localized corrosion and the cracks of corrosion products occurred in the surface of U-Ti alloy. The U4f spectras of U-Ti alloys in two typical regions as a function of etching time show that the composition is U₃O₈/UO_2+x/UO₂/U in black region while the composition is UO_{2 x}/UO₂/U in yellow region.

Key words:U-Ti alloy; salt spray environment; pitting corrosion; corrosion products