Effect of the Type of an Alkaline Solution on the Corrosion Resistance of WC–Ni 3 Al-Composites

The influence of alkaline solutions on the corrosion behavior of WC–Ni 3 Al composites with a varied content of particles of tungsten carbide and Ni 3 Al intermetallide produced by the methods of non-vacuum electron-beam cladding and self-propagating high-temperature synthesis, respectively, is studied. It is observed that WC– Ni 3 Al composites have a higher corrosion resistance than that of Ni 3 Al . It is found out that an increased content of the volume fraction of tungsten carbide particles results in the maximum corrosion resistance of the composite in weak alkalis – potassium and sodium hydroxides, and in a more aggressive medium of an aqueous solution of ammonia, which contributes to the formation of cracks due to the residual internal stresses in the composite.