Influence of Processing Techniques on the Surface Microstructure of V{sub 85}Ni{sub 15} Membrane Alloy

• Published in: Inorganic materials Vol. 54; no. 7
• Main Authors: Sipatov, I. S., Sidorov, N. I., Petrova, S. A., Shubin, A. B., Pastukhov, E. A., Fetisov, A. V., Esin, A. A., Vostryakov, A. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15-07-2018
• Subjects: ABRASIVES; BCC LATTICES; DISSOCIATION; ETCHING; HYDROGEN; IONS; MATERIALS SCIENCE; MICROSTRUCTURE; NICKEL; PALLADIUM ALLOYS; POLISHING; PURIFICATION; SURFACES; VANADIUM BASE ALLOYS; X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
• ISSN: 0020-1685; 1608-3172
• DOI: 10.1134/S0020168518070178

Vanadium-based alloys with a BCC structure are considered to be an alternative to palladium alloys for hydrogen purification. Since the performance of membranes is influenced by not only their bulk characteristics but also their surface condition, we have investigated the effect of different surface preparation techniques (abrasive grinding and polishing, electrolytic polishing, and ion etching) on the surface microstructure of V{sub 85}Ni{sub 15} membrane alloy using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. After electrolytic polishing and ion etching, we observed an increase in the percentages of vanadium and nickel metals in the surface layer of the alloy in comparison with its state after abrasive polishing. Such changes are expected to be favorable for an increase in the rate of hydrogen dissociation and recombination on the surface of the membrane material, eventually improving hydrogen transport efficiency.