Evaluating the corrosion performance of a Al2Cr5Cu5Fe53Ni35 multi-principal element alloy (MPEA) in NS4 simulated soil via electrochemical characterization and thermodynamic predictions
摘要
This work investigates the corrosion performance of an Al₂Cr₅Cu₅Fe₅₃Ni₃₅ multi-principal element alloy (MPEA) in a simulated soil (NS4) solution at different pH using a combination of electrochemical characterization techniques and thermodynamic modeling. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) were conducted across a broad pH range to assess the corrosion resistance and passive film behavior of the alloy. The formation and stability of the passive layer were further examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to determine the surface chemical species, while scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) characterized pitting and localized corrosion after CPP testing. These experimental results were compared with computationally predicted species stability and kinetic trends derived from a Pourbaix diagram generated using thermodynamic modeling software. The findings reveal that the Al₂Cr₅Cu₅Fe₅₃Ni₃₅ MPEA forms a stable, adherent passive film with a composition that evolves with pH but remains protective across the examined range. This integrated approach underscores the utility of combining electrochemical data with computational modeling to understand and predict corrosion mechanisms in complex MPEA systems.