Effect of Ni on the corrosion behavior of Fe–Al intermetallics in simulated human body fluid

The corrosion behavior of FeAl-type intermetallic alloy in the Hank’s solution has been investigated after additions of 1, 3, and 5 at.% Ni with or without thermal annealing at 400 °C for 144 h. Techniques included potentiodynamic polarization curves, linear polarization resistance, and change of the free corrosion potential with time and electrochemical noise in current. Regardless of the heat treatment, additions of Ni increased both the free corrosion potential and the pitting potential values. Additionally, both the corrosion current and the passive current densities were reduced with this element. The alloys which did not suffer from pitting type of corrosion were the heat-treated FeAL base alloy and the one containing 5Ni. Both additions of Ni and thermal annealing improved the adhesion of external protective layer either by avoiding the formation of voids or by lowering the number of precipitates and making them more homogenously distributed.