On the dynamic passivity and corrosion resistance of a low cost and low density multi-principal-element alloy produced via commodity metals

Recent exploration of multi-principal-element alloys (MPEAs), which include the so-called high-entropy alloys, has revealed hitherto unreported properties and phenomena arising from investigation broader compositional space. Herein, a low cost lightweight alloy (equiatomic AlFeMnSi) is presented that exhibits exceptional corrosion resistance in 0.6 M NaCl solution, despite multiphase structure absence well-known passivating elements (such as Cr, Mo, Ti Nb). In-line inductively-coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) analysis dissolution angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron (AR-XPS) surface film passivates by unique mechanism involving dissolution–precipitation Si. The dynamic precipitation Si hydroxide results excellent passivity alloy, revealing possibility developing low-cost corrosion-resistant metals available waste streams.