Electrochemical Behavior of Three 90Cu-10Ni Tubes from Different Manufacturers After Immersion in 3.5% NaCl Solution

Investigation on the electrochemical behavior and corrosion product films formed on three 90Cu-10Ni tubes designated as Tubes A, B and C from three different manufacturers with different service lives were carried out using electrochemical techniques, SEM, XRD and XPS after immersion in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The results of polarization curve measurements showed noticeable decrease in the corrosion current densities ( I corr ) of the three tubes with immersion time, and the I corr of Tube C was comparatively lower than those of Tubes A and B at early immersion period. EIS measurements revealed duplex film layers on the surface of the samples with the inner film formation occurring at different times for different tubes as the film resistance R f2 revealed the formation of the inner compact layer in Tube C after 15-day immersion and in Tubes A and B after 30 days. Tube C showed better corrosion resistance which is due to early formation of the inner compact oxide film. The XPS analysis revealed Ni enrichment on the surface film of the three samples but Ni depletion as the immersion time is increased.