Abstract
Amorphous alloys of the rare earths and the transitions metals are extremely reactive to water and oxygen resulting in severe corrosion upon exposure to high humidity environments. In this work we have utilized electron spectroscopy techniques (AES, XPS), SIMS, and electrochemical measurements to determine the underlying mechanisms responsible for corrosion in these thin films. We have determined that the corrosion is of a “pitting-corrosion” nature and is hindered by the rapid formation of terbium oxide. However, defects and contaminants provide, via local inhomogeneity, a pathway for water to directly interact with the metallic components. This is the origin for pitting-like corrosion in these alloys. Fe corrosion and mass transport are important contributions to the pit-growth phenomena in the electrolytic solution. © 1990, The Electrochemical Society, Inc. All rights reserved.