Anodic Dissolution Behavior of Zirconium in n-Butanol Solutions Containing Bun4NBr

Anodic dissolution of zirconium in Bun4NBr-containing n-butanol solutions was investigated using cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry and potentiostatic current–time transient and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Zirconium did not exhibit active dissolution due to passivation in the potential region of 0.2 to 1.2 V vs. SCE. The zirconium dissolution in passive state was under mass transfer control. Pitting corrosion took place as a result of passivity breakdown by Br− anions and the typical steady-state pitting potential was between 1.55–1.60 V vs. SCE in n-butanol solutions containing 0.08 M Bun4NBr. SEM images confirmed the occurrence and the intensification of pits with an increase of potential. Increasing Bun4NBr concentration accelerated the pit nucleation and growth. The reaction order leading to pit nucleation process was 1.0 with respect to bromide anions. The dissolution of zirconium in n-butanol solution produced Zr(OC4H9)4.