• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.317-327
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• 2017

The change in the oxidation behavior of three types of B-added ultrahigh strength martensitic steels containing Ti and Nb induced by applying constant cathodic current was investigated. In a 3% NaCl+0.3% $NH_4SCN$ solution, the overall polarization behavior of the three alloys was similar, and degradation of the oxide film was observed in the three alloys after applying constant cathodic current. A significant increase in the anodic current density was observed in the Nb-added alloy, while it was diminished in the Ti-added alloy. Both Ti and Nb alloying decreased the hydrogen overpotential by forming NbC and TiC particles. In addition, the thickest oxide film was formed on the Ti-added alloy, but the addition of Nb decreased the film thickness. Therefore, it was concluded that the remarkable increase in the anodic current density of Nb-added alloy induced by applying constant cathodic current density was attributed to the formation of the thinnest oxide film less protective to hydrogen absorption, and the addition of Ti effectively blocked the hydrogen absorption by forming TiC particles and a relatively thick oxide film.