ChemInform Abstract: A Study of the Passive Behavior of Beryllium in Aqueous Solutions.

Abstract

A Study of the Passive Behavior of Beryllium in Aqueous Solutions.-The passive behavior of commercially pure Be is studied in a variety of solutions (orthophosphate, orthoborate, carbonate, formiate, oxalate, and NaOH) covering the pH range 1-15. The passive current densities are essentially potential independent at anodic potentials up to the O2 evolution or pit nucleation. A tendency for localized corrosion is observed in acetate, formiate, oxalate, and borate solutions, whereas stable uniform passive corrosion is observed in orthophosphate and NaOH. Ex situ analysis reveals that the passive film consists of microcrystalline BeO. In certain buffer solutions, the passive current density increases with increasing concentration of the weak acid. It is suggested that the weak acid acts as a proton donor in the dissolution of Be2+ from the passive film. -(GULBRANDSEN, E.; JOHANSEN, A. M. J.; Corros. Sci. 36 (1994) 9, 1523-1536 Dep. Chem., Univ. Oslo, N-0315 Oslo, Norway; EN)