Effect of niobium on the corrosion behaviour of low alloy steel in sulfuric acid solution

This study examines the effect of niobium (Nb) addition on the electrochemical properties of low alloy steel using electrochemical techniques in a 10 wt.% sulfuric acid solution as well as surface analysis techniques. The potentiodynamic test reveals the passive behaviour of all specimens and a decrease in the passive currents with increasing Nb content. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) shows that the Nb-containing steels have higher passive and charge transfer resistance than the control samples. These results suggest that the interaction of elements improves the corrosion resistance of low alloy steel due to the formation of Nb, C, S, P. and Fe products on the surface. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.