Electrochemical Properties of Intermetallic Compounds (Part 1). Relation between the Anodic Polarization of Electron Compounds, β Phases and Tammann’s “Wirkungsgrenze”

Abstract

The anodic polarization P_A of β phases, electron compounds, and other intermetallic compounds A_mB_n increased suddenly and the corrosion potential of those compounds became noble at some values of Δx, the difference of electronegativities of A and B. This phenomenon was explained as originated in the change of the stability of B atom (base metal) in alloys and it was presumed that Tammann’s “Wirkungsgrenze” might be a similar phenomenon and be due rather to the change of some properties in the alloys, for instance, the ordered arrangement of atoms, than to an oxide film on the alloy surface.