Study of the surface oxides and corrosion behaviour of an equiatomic CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy by XPS and ToF-SIMS

XPS and ToF-SIMS analysis have been combined with electrochemical measurements to determine the corrosion behavior of the equiatomic CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy. An XPS methodology based on analysis of the 3p core level spectra was developed to determine the composition and thickness of oxide films. Both native oxide ( similar to 1.4 nm) and passive films (similar to 1.6 nm) formed in acidic medium are duplex, comprising Cr and Mn inner layer and Cr/Fe/Co mixture outer layer. No nickel is observed in the oxide layer. The effects of exposure of the native film to sulfuric acid and passivation under anodic polarization have been investigated.