Electrochemical Properties of -Fe + Fe₃C Nanocrystalline Composites in Acidic Environments

A. V. Syugaev^a, S. F. Lomaeva^a, and S. M. Reshetnikov^b

^a Physical-Technical Institute, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Kirova 132, Izhevsk, Udmurtia, 426000 Russia

e-maol: uds@pti. udm. ru

^b Udmurt State University, ul. Universitetskaya 1, Izhevsk, Udmurtia, 426034 Russia

e-maol: chi@ani. udm. ru

Received January 28, 2008

Abstract — Regularities of the physicochemical behavior of -Fe + Fe₃C nanocomposites in a concentration range of ementite from 9 to 92 wt % in sulfate and chloride solutions are studied. Nanocrystalline state (~40 nm) is found to ntensify the active dissolution of -Fe + Fe₃C alloys and not noticeably affect the hydrogen evolution in acidic envionments. With an increase in the cementite content or when it forms a reticular structure, the catalytic activity of -e + Fe₃C nanocrystalline composites with respect to the hydrogen evolution increases. Cementite manifests a higher verpotential of dissolution in both sulfate and chloride solutions.