Corrosion resistance of Ti-based metallic glass coating in concentrated nitric acid

•A fully amorphous Ti-based metallic glass coating was formed.•The amorphous coating exhibited superior corrosion resistance in HNO3.•A uniform and mix-structured TiO2 corrosion product was formed.•The coating may become the optimal candidate for nuclear applications.

This paper investigated the corrosion resistance of a Ti-based metallic glass coating in concentrated HNO3 solution, and discovered the coating's superior corrosion resistance compared with 304 L substrate. The coating exhibited a fully amorphous and pore-free structure with the thickness of ∼380 μm. A relatively uniform and thick passivation film was formed on the surface of the coating as an oxygen diffusion barrier, leading to the much improved corrosion resistance. The Raman spectrum evidenced that the passivation film was mainly TiO2 with a mixed structure of anatase and rutile. We believe that the present findings will open up a new horizon for coatings in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing applications.