Online hyphenation of potentiostat to a microflow-capillary FI-ICP-MS for simultaneous in situ electrochemical, time and element resolved characterization of local corrosion processes—an application for Zr-bulk metallic glass

Abstract

A novel technique based on an online hyphenation of an electrochemical control to a microflow-capillary FI-ICP-MS set-up is developed for the local investigation of corrosion processes. Construction and analytical optimization steps are presented in detail. The novel microflow-capillary FI-ICP-MS technique with simultaneous electrochemical control enables acquisition of electrochemical and chemical element-resolved data at the same time. Precise characterization of the local dissolution corrosion processes is achieved with the new technique. The capabilities of the new hyphenated technique are demonstrated for the example of zirconium bulk metallic glasses, which are prospective materials for various industrial applications. The corrosion susceptibility of Zr_58.5Cu_15.6Ni_12.8Al_10.3Nb_2.8 in 0.1 M HCl, 0.1 M NaCl and 0.001 M NaCl was evaluated at open circuit potential and during electrochemical potentiodynamic polarization of the sample surface. A preferential release of less noble elements like Ni and Al from bulk metallic glass was revealed, whereas the dissolution of Cu from the material was strongly hindered.