Effect of ion beam irradiation on the corrosion behavior of the melt-spun ribbon Ti60Ni40

Potentiodynamic polarization studies were carried out on unirradiated and irradiated Ti60Ni40 specimens in 1 M HNO3 aqueous medium at room temperature. The irradiation was carried out using N+ 150 keV ions at a fluence of 1 × 1016 ions/cm2. Polarization results revealed that the irradiated specimen exhibits less corrosion current density as compared to the unirradiated Ti60Ni40 specimen. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies were also carried out on the irradiated and unirradiated specimens after corrosion test. It was observed that the absence of Ti3+ species in the oxide film of the irradiated specimen as compared to the unirradiated specimen results in the improvement of the corrosion resistance. Polarization results are also corroborated by weight loss data.

Research Highlights
► The Ti60Ni40 specimen was irradiated using N+ 150 keV ions at a fluence 1×1016 ions/cm2.
► Polarization results revealed that irradiated specimen exhibits superior corrosion resistance as compared to the unirradiated Ti60Ni40 specimen.
► Based on the XPS characterization of oxide film it was concluded that the absence of Ti3+ species in oxide film of the irradiated specimen results in the improvement of the corrosion resistance.
► The SEM micrographs suggest the formation of a more homogeneous and protective oxide film on the irradiated specimen.