Intergranular pitting tendency of yttrium implanted Inconel 600 in acidic chloride media

Yttrium ions of energy 0.5 MeV were implanted to modify the surface of Inconel 600 by using a Pelletron Accelerator. Microstructural and XRD studies reveal austenitic nickel solid solution (γ) and intergranular carbides. The surfaces were electrochemically investigated by potentiodynamic polarization, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Mott–Schottky techniques in acidic saline solution. The results indicate that the yttrium ions implantation significantly reduces the intragranular pitting as compared to the intergranular pitting tendency of the alloy. The low passive current density, minor pseudo-capacitive behavior and high flat band potential with p-type nature of passive film limit the electrochemical dissolution of the yttrium implanted Inconel.