Development of an environmentally friendly protective coating for the depleted uranium-0.75 wt.% titanium alloy. Part II: Coating formation and evaluation

Molybdenum oxide based coatings have been formed on the surface of the depleted uranium-0.75 wt.% titanium alloy. Surface activation prior to coating formation has been examined using fluorides and concentrated nitric acid. The electrochemical characteristics of the coating formation processes were studied using open circuit potential measurements. Residual fluoride from the activation process has been found to interfere with coating formation and surface activation by nitric acid yields a relatively thinner but more robust coating. The corrosion protection characteristics of the coatings were evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization testing in quiescent 0.05 M sodium chloride. The coatings have been studied using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and optical microscopy.