Electrochemical Evaluation of a Discontinuously Reinforced TiC/Ni-20Cr Composite

The work focuses on the analysis of electrochemical corrosion in synthetic salt medium of the TiC/Ni-20Cr composite through the polarization curve technique at four exposure times (0, 6, 12 and 24 h). The composite was prepared by liquid infiltration of the liquid alloy into a porous body of TiC. It was found a continuous and homogeneous distribution of the reinforcing material in the interconnected matrix, having a residual porosity of 6.49 vol.%. According to the electrochemical results, in both samples the highest corrosion rate (CR) was obtained at 12 h exposure due to the rupture of the film of the corrosion products, allowing the interaction of chloride ions with the metal surface. The CR of the composite was slightly higher than that of the alloy at all exposure times, so that the presence of the reinforcing particles and the residual porosity reduce the corrosion resistance of the matrix in the composite. The mechanism of corrosion observed in the alloy and the composite was by pitting, however, the composite also presents crevice corrosion by a differential aeration cell mechanism formed between the metal matrix and the ceramic reinforcement, affected by the residual porosity as confirmed by electron microscopy examination.