Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior of Nanocrystalline Materials—a Review

Nanocrystallization significantly influences the electrochemical corrosion behaviors of metals/alloys in liquid system. In active dissolution, nanocrystallization accelerates the corrosion reactions. If the corrosion products are dissoluble, the corrosion rate is increased by nanocrystallization; if the corrosion products are insoluble, the corrosion rate is decreased on the contrary because the corrosion products act as a block layer to delay the dissolution. In passivation, nanocrystallization changes the composition of the passive film, and results into different morphology and growth process of the passive film, both of which improves the formation of compact film and influences the semiconductor property. It influences the passivation depending on fast element diffusion and special adsorbed ability. The small grain size improves the element diffusion, which leads to the different composition of passive film (passive elements enrichment such as Cr, Ti). The small grain size also changes the surface condition, which influences the ions adsorption. All increase the corrosion resistance of materials. In local corrosion, nanocrystallization increases the unstable points on the surface of the materials, which increases the possibility of local corrosion. However, the excellent ability of element diffusion helps heal the local corrosion points, which inhibits the growth of the local corrosion.