Ion Beam Analysis Investigation of Pit Nucleation on Titanium in Bromide Media Available to Purchase

Corrosion pit nucleation on titanium in bromide solutions was studied using ion beam analysis. At potentials lower than the potential of pit nucleation (E_np), Br⁻ rich sites observed appear as repassivated metastable micropits. Clusters of Ti Br₄ molecules should be the real pit nuclei. Stabilization, i.e., activation of micropits can only be obtained at higher potentials than E_np, as shown by the topographical agreement between the micropits and macropits grown afterwards. On titanium covered with stable passive film, blisters full of occluded gas are formed and the amorphous oxide passive film may break in preferential directions induced from areas enriched with crystallized bromide compounds.