Effect of crystallographic orientation on the corrosion resistance of Ni-based single crystal superalloys

•Electrochemical corrosion resistance of Ni-based single crystal superalloys under (001), (011), and (111) orientations was evaluated.•Corrosion resistance of samples can be enhanced with the increase of compact oxides on passive film.•Based on the chemical composition of product, a new parameter Rcp which can describe the resistance of passive film is proposed.•The mechanism of orientation-dependent corrosion behaviour is revealed by the origin of corrosion and passive evolution.