Quantification of corrosion phenomena in plastic processing machines

In a model platelet system the corrosion of metallic materials was studied by processing polyethylene, polyphenylene sulfide, and glass-fibre-reinforced polyphenylene sulfide. The measurement methods used were scanning electron microscopy (images), electron-probe microanalysis (lateral element maps), secondary-ion mass spectrometry (depth profiles), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (chemical bonding), and grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction (structures of crystalline compounds). As non-destructive measure of corrosive attack, grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction, using the intensity ratio (IFe-O/IFe), was found to be the method of choice. The reproducibility for the total procedure was found to range between 6 and 13% (rel.). The intensity ratio was examined as function of depth, of the time of stress, of material composition, and of the surrounding atmosphere. Oxides were identified as main corrosion products. The extent of oxide formation is proportional to the time elapsed after processing.