The role of chromium content in aqueous passivation of a non-equiatomic Ni38Fe20CrxMn21-0.5xCo21-0.5x multi-principal element alloy (x = 22, 14, 10, 6 at%) in acidic chloride solution

The effect of the Cr content on the corrosion behavior in a series of single-phase non-equiatomic Ni38Fe20CrxMn21-0.5xCo21-0.5x (6 < x < 22 at%) multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) was investigated in acidified NaCl solutions. Comparisons were made with binary solid solution Co-Cr, Ni-Cr, and Fe-Cr alloys over a similar range of Cr contents. The corrosion behavior was evaluated using in-situ AC and DC electrochemical methods and ex-situ surface sensitive characterization techniques. Passivity and various levels of local corrosion resistance were obtained in the MPEA with 10 at% Cr or above. The binary Ni-Cr alloys with 12–30 at% Cr behaved similarly. The MPEA with 6 at% Cr and binary alloys with 5, 6, or 10 at% Cr were marginally passive or active and underwent localized corrosion during both linear sweep voltammetry and potentiostatic hold experiments. Passive films formed during potentiostatic hold experiments were characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atom probe tomography. Cr cation enrichment in the passive films was observed for all alloys and similar enrichment factors were obtained as a function of Cr content regardless of whether MPEA or binary alloy except for the Fe-Cr alloy. Moreover, passive current density was correlated with the Cr cation fraction in the passive film. The degree of Cr enrichment was attributed to a combination of thermodynamic and kinetic factors, such as selective chemical dissolution of alloying elements as well as limitation due to solute depletion at the metal oxide interface in alloys with a bulk Cr content ≤ 10 at%.