Inhibition of localized corrosion of Ni–Ti superelastic alloy in NaCl solution by hydrogen charging

Highlights: • Hydrogen charging inhibits localized corrosion of Ni–Ti superelastic alloy. • Increasing hydrogen content increases anodic current density. • Inhibition of localized corrosion remains after polishing or superelastic deformation. • Small amount of hydrogen charging may become new surface modification. - Abstract: Inhibition of the localized corrosion of Ni–Ti superelastic alloy in 0.9% NaCl solution has been attempted by charging with a small amount of hydrogen, which causes negligible hydrogen embrittlement. Upon a small amount of hydrogen charging, no pitting potential is observed in anodic polarization curves. From scanning electron microscope observations, localized corrosion is inhibited on the entire side surface of charged specimens. With increasing amount of charged hydrogen, the corrosion potential shifts in the less noble direction and the current density increases under anodic applied potential. When the hydrogen charged specimens are aged in the atmosphere at room temperature, the corrosion potential becomes almost the same as that of the non-charged specimen, but the inhibition of localized corrosion remains. The present study indicates that a small amount of hydrogen charging is effective for inhibiting the localized corrosion of the alloy in NaCl solution