A corrosion mechanism of titanium diboride in KF−AlF3−Al2O3 melt

Abstract

TiB2 samples were exposed to molten KF−AlF3−Al2O3: 54.8-42.1-3.1mol% salt, at 680°C for 50, 100 and 200h. The corroded samples of TiB2 were investigated by SEM-EDX, EBSD, XRD, FT-IR and MAS NMR analysis. Corrosion was noted to occur predominantly as pitting attacks on the surface of the investigated materials. An inter-crystal and trans-crystal corrosion were identified on the cross-sections of the samples. A perturbation of TiB bonds was detected (SEM-EDX and NMR analysis), at which a formation of orthorhombic TiO2 was also identified (EBSD analysis). The subsequent NMR, XRD and FT-IR analysis of the behaviour of TiB2 powder in molten KF−AlF3−Al2O3 supports the statement about the formation of orthorhombic TiO2 and mullite type of aluminium borates.