Effect of oxygen impurity on corrosion behavior of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.5 M NaOH solutions

Effects of unavoidable oxygen impurity in industrial-grade Zr-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) on their properties are the issues that must be considered. The studies on oxygen-related corrosion behaviors of Zr-based BMGs are rarely reported. This paper aims to clarify the effects of oxygen impurity on corrosion of the as-cast Zr61Ti2Cu25Al12 BMGs in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.5 M NaOH solutions. The results show that oxygen impurity has no effects on the corrosion in 0.5 M H2SO4, but is unexpectedly beneficial for improving the corrosion resistance in 0.5 M NaOH by inhibiting the cathodic reaction. The latter phenomenon could be correlated with the oxygeninduced annihilation of free volume. The finding herein further confirms that oxygen impurity is not harmful, even beneficial, for corrosion resistance of industrial-grade Zr61Ti2Cu25Al12 BMGs.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effects of oxygen impurity on the corrosion behavior of Zr61Ti2Cu25Al12 BMGs in different solutions. The results show that oxygen impurity has a positive effect on the corrosion resistance in 0.5 M NaOH, while it has no effect in 0.5 M H2SO4.