Element-specific in situ corrosion behavior of Zr–Cu–Ni–Al–Nb bulk metallic glass in acidic media studied using a novel microcapillary flow injection inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique

Element-specific time-resolved in situ corrosion susceptibility of the Zr58.5Cu15.6Ni12.8Al10.3Nb2.8 bulk metallic glass was studied using a novel microcapillary flow injection inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (microcapillary FI-ICP-MS) technique. In comparison to the time consuming and sample demanding static immersion tests, the new set-up allows element-specific in situ investigations of corrosion dissolution rates with a high time resolution. Moreover, online monitoring of corrosion processes can be performed at a single sample spot. esolved profiles of element release from Zr58.5Cu15.6Ni12.8Al10.3Nb2.8 were investigated in 1 M HCl and 1 M HNO3 under the open circuit potential conditions. Preferential dissolution of Cu and Al from the Zr-bulk metallic glass was determined. er, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was employed to characterize the composition of the oxide film before and after the immersion in acidic corrosive medium. Based on microcapillary FI-ICP-MS and XPS results the mechanisms for simultaneous Al and Cu depletion and Zr content enrichment in the oxide film were proposed.