Effects of Ce, Sm and Yb on cavitation erosion of NAB alloy in 3.5% NaCl solution

•The grain size of NAB alloy can become fine with adding Ce or Sm or Yb.•The decreased size of κ phase with adding Ce or Sm or Yb can reduce the stress between κ phase and the substrate α or β phase.•NAB alloy containing Yb behaves the strongest cavitation erosion resistance in 3.5% NaCl solution. The influences of Ce, Sm and Yb on cavitation erosion of NAB alloy in 3.5% NaCl solution are evaluated using mass loss, SEM, 3D morphology and Tafel plot, respectively. The results show that the addition of Ce or Sm or Yb enhances the mechanical property of NAB alloy, and the sizes of κⅠ and κⅡ phases within NAB alloy decrease with adding Ce or Sm or Yb, resulting in the prevention of the propagation of the cracks caused by cavitation erosion initially originated at the phase boundaries between α and κ phases, and finally the cavitation erosion damage significantly decreases with adding Ce or Sm or Yb. The corrosion of NAB alloy in 3.5% NaCl solution can promote the cavitation erosion of NAB alloy, while the corrosion resistance of NAB alloy increases with the addition of Ce or Sm or Yb, and then the cavitation erosion resistance is accordingly improved with the addition of rare earth element.