ESCA studies of Fe-Ti alloys

Fe-Ti alloys containing 5 to 47% Ti have been studied by ESCA. The alloys were exposed to 0.1 M NaCl for 24 h under open-circuit potential (OCP) during which passive films were formed. The passive film consisted of FeO and TiO₂ in the inner layer while Fe₂O₃, water, and hydroxyl groups were present in the outermost monolayers, irrespective of composition. The thickness of the passive layer was reduced from 4.4 nm to 1.0 nm with increasing Ti content. The amount of iron oxide in the passive layer also decreased with increasing Ti. Electrochemical techniques according to ASTM G59 and ASTM G5 were used for the determination of the relative corrosion rate of the alloys. Alloys with 5–28% Ti showed a relatively high corrosion rate but that with 47 wt.% Ti had a much lower corrosion rates.