Title

Influence of Beryllides on the Corrosion of Commercial Grades of Beryllium

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 2003

Abstract

The bulk form of the Be intermetallics FeAlBe4, FeBe5, and TiBe12 were examined in solutions ranging in pH from 2 to 12.5 at ambient temperature. The intermetallics were manufactured by arc-melting stoichiometric amounts of Be and the alloying elements Al, Ti, and Fe as indicated. Composition and structure were verified with x-ray diffraction. Polarization data along with open-circuit potential measurements were used to make mixed potential predictions of the electrochemical activity of the beryllides in commercial grades of Be. These predictions were verified for FeBe5 by arc-melting a button consisting of Be-10 at% FeBe5. For near-neutral and slightly alkaline pH, the beryllides were passive at all potentials examined. In pH 2 solution, the beryllides were active. To characterize the oxide film on as-prepared and post-immersion samples, angle-resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used. In general, the near-surface oxide was stoichiometric to hyper-stoichiometric oxidized Be. In some cases, selective dissolution was observed in the XPS data. In all cases, the oxide formed on samples exposed to pH 2 solution was thinner as compared to as-polished samples.

Volume

59

Issue

5

First Page

424

Last Page

435

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