Corrosion studies of single crystals of iron–gallium alloys in aqueous environments

Iron–gallium (Fe–Ga) alloys have attracted lot of attention for use in sensor and actuator applications due to an excellent combination of large low-field magnetostriction, high mechanical strength, good ductility and low cost. This paper reports the very first measurement of the corrosion behavior of single crystals of Fe–Ga alloys. The corrosion behaviors of single crystals of Fe–15 at.% Ga, Fe–20 at.% Ga and Fe–27.5 at.% Ga alloys were studied in acidic (0.1 M HCl), basic (0.1 M NaOH) and simulated seawater (3.5 wt.% NaCl) environments. Dependence of corrosion rates on the crystal orientation is also examined. The polarization resistance technique was used for measuring the corrosion potentials and corrosion rates. The corrosion rate of single crystals of Fe–Ga alloys in 0.1 M HCl aqueous solution is higher than that in 3.5 wt.% NaCl aqueous solutions. The corrosion rate of single crystals of Fe–Ga alloys is least in 0.1 M NaOH aqueous solutions.