Fretting wear behaviour of surface mechanical attrition treated alloy 718

Alloy 718 was subjected to surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) using SAE 52100 steel balls of a 5 mm diameter for four different treatment durations (15, 30, 45 and 60 min). Fretting wear tests were conducted at different normal loads on untreated and treated samples for 25,000 cycles using alumina as a counterbody material. Microstructural features of the surface layer of samples treated by SMAT were characterized by cross-sectional optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Hardness, surface roughness and residual stress were determined using a nano-indenter, surface roughness tester and X-ray residual stress analyzer respectively. SMAT resulted in the formation of nanocrystallites on the surface and near surface regions, increased hardness, increased surface roughness and compressive residual stress at the surface. Treated samples exhibited lower tangential force coefficient (TFC) compared to untreated samples. Samples treated for 60 min exhibited higher grain refinement, higher hardness, lower surface roughness and higher TFC compared to the samples treated for 30 min. The wear volume and wear rate of samples treated for 30 min were lower compared to those of the untreated samples, which may be attributed to an optimum combination of hardness and toughness and a low work hardening rate of the nanocrystalline structure at the surface of the treated samples. In contrast, the wear volume and wear rate of the samples treated for 60 min were higher than those of untreated samples, presumably due to the higher hardness and reduced toughness of the samples treated for 60 min.     

Effect of surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) on zinc phosphating of steel

The effects of surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) of EN8 steel on the growth of phosphate coatings, morphological features and corrosion resistance of the resultant coatings have been studied. SMAT enabled the formation of a uniform surface profile although the average surface roughness is increased after treatment. SMAT increased the extent of metal dissolution and the rate of growth of phosphate coating. In spite of the similarity in phase composition, the phosphate crystallite size is relatively high for samples treated by SMAT. Compared to the untreated one, a cathodic shift in E_corr with a corresponding decrease in i_corr is observed for SMAT treated EN8 steel after phosphating. For all tested samples, zinc phosphate coatings deposited on EN8 steel after SMAT using 8 mm Ø balls for 30 min offers the highest corrosion resistance. The increase in surface roughness by SMAT is partly compensated by the expected improvement in corrosion resistance.     

Effect of surface nanocrystallization on the microstructural and corrosion characteristics of AZ91D magnesium alloy

Surface distinct deformed layers with thicknesses up to 150 μm, with grain size in the top most surface is in the nanometer scale, were produced on AZ91D magnesium alloy using surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT). Effects of different ball size on the properties of the SMATed samples were investigated. The microstructural, grain size, hardness and roughness features of the treated surfaces were characterized using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-indenter and digital roughness meter, respectively. Corrosion behavior of the samples was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. It is found that the ball diameter does not have a significant effect on the top surface grain size, but the thickness of the deformed layer increases with increase of ball size, from 50 μm for 2 mm balls to 150 μm for 5 mm balls. For all of the SMATed samples, the top surface microhardness value increased significantly and did not show any obvious change for samples treated with different balls. Corrosion studies show that the corrosion resistance of the sample treated with 2 mm balls is higher than that of those treated with 3 mm and 5 mm balls. This can be mainly attributed to the surface roughness and defects density of the samples, which are higher for the SMATed samples with 3 mm and 5 mm balls compared with that of sample SMATed with 2 mm balls.     

Corrosion behavior of iron-based alloys in the LiBr + ethylene glycol + H2O mixture

The corrosion resistance of 1018 carbon steel, 304 and 316 type stainless steels in the LiBr (55 wt.%) + ethylene glycol + H₂O mixture at 25, 50 and 80 °C has been studied using electrochemical techniques which included potentiodynamic polarization curves, electrochemical noise and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. Results showed that, at all tested temperature, the three steels exhibited an active-passive behavior. Carbon steel showed the highest corrosion rate, since both the passive and corrosion current density values were between two and four orders of magnitude higher than those found for both stainless steels. Similarly, the most active pitting potential values was for 1018 carbon steel. For 1018 carbon steel, the corrosion process was under a mixed diffusion and charge transfer at 25 °C, whereas at 50 and 80 °C a pure diffusion controlled process could be observed. For 316 type stainless steel, at 25 and 50 °C a species adsorption controlled process was observed, whereas at 80 °C a diffusion controlled mechanism was present. Additionally, at 25 °C, the three steels were more susceptible to uniform type of corrosion, whereas at 50 and 80 °C they were very susceptible to localized type of corrosion.     

An experimental study of crevice corrosion behaviour of 316L stainless steel in artificial seawater

The effects of applied torque on corrosion behaviour of 316L stainless steel with crevices were investigated using the cyclic potentiodynamic polarization method. Three kinds of crevices (316L-to-polytetrafluoroethylene, 316L-to-fluoroelastomeric and 316L-to-316L) were tested in artificial seawater at 50 °C. Corroded surface morphology was also investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Results indicate similar trends in crevice corrosion susceptibility with increasing applied torque. Among the three crevices, the 316L stainless steel specimen, coupled to the 316L stainless steel crevice former, is the most susceptible to crevice corrosion.     

Corrosion properties of active screen plasma nitrided 316 austenitic stainless steel

AISI 316 austenitic stainless steel has been plasma nitrided using the active screen plasma nitriding (ASPN) technique. Corrosion properties of the untreated and AS plasma nitrided 316 steel have been evaluated using various techniques, including qualitative evaluation after etching in 50%HCl + 25%HNO₃ + 25%H₂O, weight loss measurement after immersion in 10% HCl, and anodic polarisation tests in 3.5% NaCl solution. The results showed that the untreated 316 stainless steel suffered severe localised pitting and crevice corrosion under the testing conditions. AS plasma nitriding at low temperature (420 °C) produced a single phase nitrided layer of nitrogen expanded austenite (S-phase), which considerably improved the corrosion properties of the 316 austenitic stainless steel. In contrast, AS plasma nitriding at a high temperature (500 °C) resulted in chromium nitride precipitation so that the bulk of the nitrided case had very poor corrosion resistance. However, a thin deposition layer on top of the nitrided case, which seems to be unique to AS plasma nitriding, could have alleviated the corrosion attack of the higher temperature nitrided 316 steel.     

Effect of thermal annealing on the corrosion protection of stainless steel by poly(3-octyl thiophene)

Poly(3-octyl thiophene) (P3OT) coatings have been chemically deposited by drop casting onto 304-type stainless steel. P3OT films were thermally annealed at 55, 80 and 100 °C in air during 30 h and their corrosion resistance was estimated by using polarization curves, linear polarization resistance (LPR), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, EIS. P3OT films decreased the corrosion rate of the substrate by at least one order of magnitude, although the best corrosion protection was given by annealing it at 100 °C whereas the worst corrosion protection was given by annealing the coating at 80 °C.     

Corrosion properties of plasma nitrided AISI 410 martensitic stainless steel in 3.5% NaCl and 1% HCl aqueous solutions

Samples of an AISI 410 martensitic stainless steel were plasma nitrided at a temperature of 420 °C, 460 °C or 500 °C for 20 h. The composition, microstructure and hardness of the nitrided samples were characterised using a variety of analytical techniques. In particular, the corrosion properties of the untreated and plasma nitrided samples were evaluated using anodic polarisation tests in 3.5% NaCl solution and immersion tests in 1% HCl acidic water solution. The results showed that plasma nitriding produced a relatively thick nitrided case consisting of a compound layer and a nitrogen diffusion layer on the 410 stainless steel surface. Plasma nitriding not only increased the surface hardness but also improved the corrosion resistance of the martensitic stainless steel. In the immersion test, nitrided samples showed lower weight loss and lower corrosion rate than untreated one. In the electrochemical corrosion tests, the nitrided samples showed higher corrosion potentials, higher pitting potentials and greatly reduced current densities. The improved corrosion resistance was believed to be related to the iron nitride compound layer formed on the martensitic stainless steel surface during plasma nitriding, which protected the underlying metal from corrosive attack under the testing conditions.     

Depassivation-repassivation behavior of type-312L stainless steel in NaCl solution investigated by the micro-indentation

Repassivation behavior of type-312L stainless steel containing 6% of molybdenum was examined in NaCl solution using in situ micro-indentation technique, together with type-304 and 316L stainless steels. High stability of the passive film formed on the type-312L stainless steel was also examined by depth profiling analysis of passive films using glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES). In 0.9 mol dm⁻³ NaCl solution at 296 K the type-304 and 316L stainless steels are passive only up to 0.3 V (SHE), above which pitting corrosion occurs. In contrast, no pitting corrosion occurs on type-312L stainless steel. Despite the significant difference of the pitting corrosion resistance, the repassivation kinetics of the three stainless steels, examined by micro-indentation at 0.3 V (SHE), is similar. The presence of molybdenum in the stainless steel does not influence the repassivation kinetics. The charge required to repassivate the ruptured type-312L stainless steel surface increases approximately linearly with the potential, even though the passivity-maintaining current increased markedly at potentials close to the transpassive region. Repassivation occurs without accompanying significant dissolution of steel, regardless of the stability of passive state. Depth profiling analyses of the passive films on the type-312L stainless steels formed at several potentials revealed that molybdenum species enrich in the outer layer of the passive film, below which chromium-enriched layer is present. The permeation of chloride ions may be impeded by the outer layer containing molybdate, enhancing the resistance against the localized corrosion of the type-312L stainless steel.     

On the corrosion mechanism of AISI 204Cu stainless steel in chlorinated alkaline media

Electrochemical techniques (CV, SECM, CPT) and surface analysis techniques (EDX, SEM) have been employed to assess the corrosion behaviour of the AISI 204Cu stainless steel. The behaviour of this steel has been compared with that of AISI 304 and AISI 434 stainless steels in chlorinated alkaline media. All samples performed well at room temperature under potentiodynamic polarisation up to a chloride to hydroxyl ratio of 10. At this ratio the AISI 204Cu and the AISI 434 steels presented pitting potential at +0.47 V vs. SCE and +0.31 V vs. SCE, respectively. Moreover, the critical pitting temperature was higher for the AISI 204Cu steel than for the AISI 434 steel, respectively 58 °C and 28 °C.In terms of corrosion performance of the AISI 204Cu stainless steel can be classified better than the AISI 434 steel and worse than the AISI 304 steel.Local electrochemical and chemical examinations allowed evidencing the local activity of some pits over long period, and to conclude that the improved corrosion performance of the low nickel alloy AISI 204Cu stainless steel should be ascribed to copper cementation at active corrosion sites.     

Poly(N-methylaniline) coatings on stainless steel by electropolymerization

Poly(N-methylaniline) (PNMA) coatings have been electropolymerized on 304 stainless steel alloy by potentiodynamic, galvanostatic and potentiostatic synthesis techniques from aqueous solutions of 0.1 M N-methylaniline (NMA) and 0.3 M oxalic acid. Characterization of PNMA coatings was carried out by cyclic voltammetry, UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy techniques. Corrosion behavior of PNMA coated stainless steel electrodes was investigated using linear anodic potentiodynamic polarization, Tafel test, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques in 0.5 M aqueous HCl solutions. Corrosion test results showed that PNMA coatings possessed protection to uncoated stainless steel against corrosion.     

Corrosion resistance of TiO2 films grown on stainless steel by atomic layer deposition

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) films have been deposited onto stainless steel substrates using atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. Composition analysis shows that the films shield the substrates entirely. The TiO₂ films are amorphous in structure as characterized by X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical measurements show that the equilibrium corrosion potential positively shifts from − 0.96 eV for bare stainless steel to − 0.63 eV for TiO₂ coated stainless steel, and the corrosion current density decreases from 7.0 × 10^− 7 A/cm² to 6.3 × 10^− 8 A/cm². The corrosion resistance obtained by fitting the impedance spectra also reveals that the TiO₂ films provide good protection for stainless steel against corrosion in sodium chloride solution. The above results indicate that TiO₂ films deposited by ALD are effective in protecting stainless steel from corrosion.     

The effect of temperature on the galvanic corrosion of the copper/AISI 304 pair in LiBr solutions under hydrodynamic conditions

The corrosion behaviour of copper and AISI 304 stainless steel and the galvanic corrosion generated by the copper/AISI 304 pair, have been studied by electrochemical methods. These materials have been tested in an 850 g/L LiBr solution at different temperatures (25-75 °C) and at different Reynolds numbers (1456-5066) in order to study their performance in absorption machines. Results show that copper was always the anodic element of the pair and its corrosion resistance decreases due to the AISI 304 stainless steel galvanic effect. Galvanic corrosion increases with temperature and Reynolds number. However, it was proved that the effect of temperature on galvanic corrosion is more influential than the Reynolds number effect. This fact is also certain for corrosion of uncoupled copper and for corrosion of AISI 304 stainless steel. Experimental values of the corrosion current densities fit well the Arrhenius plot at all the Reynolds numbers analysed and a potential relation between the corrosion current densities and the Reynolds number has been found.     

Development of high Mn-N duplex stainless steel for automobile structural components

A new high Mn-Ni free (duplex stainless steel) DSS containing 18Cr-6Mn-1Mo-0.2N has been developed by examining the effects of manganese on the corrosion and mechanical properties of high Mn SSs containing 18Cr-4 ∼ 11Mn-0 ∼ 2Ni-0 ∼ 1Mo-0.2N. The alloy with 45% ferrite is found to be an optimum alloy with much higher mechanical strength and similar corrosion resistance compared with those of standard SS304. In addition, the alloy was free of precipitation of sigma phase and Cr-nitride when exposed to high temperatures due primarily to relatively low contents of Cr, N and Mo. With an increase in Mn content, the resistance to pitting and metastable pitting corrosion of high Mn DSS decreased since the number of (Mn, Cr) oxides, acting as preferential sites of pitting, increased with the Mn content.     

Corrosion inhibition of mild steel by plant extract in dilute HCl medium

The inhibition effect of Zenthoxylum alatum plant extract on the corrosion of mild steel in 5% and 15% aqueous hydrochloric acid solution has been investigated by weight loss and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The corrosion inhibition efficiency increases on increasing plant extract concentration till 2400 ppm. The effect of temperature on the corrosion behaviour of mild steel in 5% and 15% HCl with addition of plant extract was studied in the temperature range 50-80 °C. Surface analysis (SEM, XPS and FT-IR) was also carried out to establish the corrosion inhibitive property of this plant extract in HCl solution. Plant extract is able to reduce the corrosion of steel more effectively in 5% HCl than in 15% HCl. The adsorption of this plant extract on the mild steel surface obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm.     

Application of the modified electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation method to detect susceptibility to intergranular corrosion of a newly developed lean duplex stainless steel LDX2101

The present work aimed at defining optimal conditions using double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DL-EPR) method for evaluating intergranular corrosion (IGC) susceptibility of lean duplex stainless steel (LDX2101) aged at 700 °C between 3 min and 300 h. The results demonstrated that the modified DL-EPR measurement (solution of 33% H₂SO₄ + 0.1% HCl at 20 °C and scan rate of 2.5 mV/s) could successfully characterize the interactions between precipitation, chromium depletion and IGC of LDX2101 with high sensitivity and reproducibility. In addition, there was no indication of healing because the effect of formation of chromium-enriched precipitates was more dominative than that of redistribution of chromium in depleted zones.     

Factors that influence the release of metals from stainless steels exposed to physiological media

Release rates of chromium, nickel and iron from grade 304 stainless steel with three different surface finishes, BA, 2B and 2D, have been determined after exposure to artificial lysosomal fluid. Metal release rates are discussed in relation to corrosion resistance, compositional changes of the outermost surface film of the stainless steel and to measurements of the effective surface area and roughness. The total metal release decreased in the following sequence: 2D > 2B ≈ BA, and was primarily related to the electrochemically active surface area. No direct correlation was observed between corrosion resistance and metal release rates.     

Corrosion studies of stainless steel protected by a TiO2 thin film deposited on a sulfonate-functionalized self-assembled monolayer

Thioacetate hexadecyltrimethoxysilane was deposited on SiO₂-coated stainless steel to form a thioacetate-functionalized monolayer. In situ oxidation of the thioacetate yielded a sulfonate-functionalized monolayer. Solution deposition of TiO₂ on this monolayer covered the stainless steel with a thin layer of the metal oxide (5-10 nm). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and potentiostatic current transient demonstrated the efficiency of the corrosion protection in sodium chloride media, including protection against pitting corrosion.     

The effect of atmospheric corona treatment on AA1050 aluminium

The effect of atmospheric corona discharge on AA1050 aluminium surface was investigated using electrochemical polarization, SEM-EDX, FIB-SEM, and XPS. The corona treatment was performed with varying time (1, 5, and 15 min) in atmospheric air. A 200 nm oxide layer was generated on AA1050 after the 15 min air corona treatment. A significant reduction in anodic and cathodic reactivities was observed starting from 1 min exposure, which further decreased with prolonged exposure (15 min) and after delayed testing (after 30 days). The reduction in surface reactivity is due to the formation of thicker and denser oxide film.     

Corrosion behaviour of duplex stainless steels sintered in nitrogen

Duplex stainless steels obtained through powder metallurgy (PM) technology from austenitic AISI 316L and ferritic AISI 430L powders were mixed on different amounts to obtain biphasic structures with austenite/ferrite ratio of 50/50, 65/35 and 85/15. Prepared mixes of powders have been compacted at 750 MPa and sintered in N₂-H₂ (95% and 5%) at 1250 °C for 1 h. Corrosion behaviour, using electrochemical techniques such as anodic polarization measurement, cyclic anodic polarization scan and electrochemical potentio-kinetic reactivation test and double loop electrochemical potentio-kinetic reactivation double loop test were evaluated. For duplex stainless steels, when austenite/ferrite ratio increases the corrosion potential shifts to more noble potential and passive current density decreases. The beneficial effect of annealing solution heat treatment on corrosion behaviour was established and was compared with corrosion behaviour of vacuum sintered duplex stainless steels. The results were correlated with the microstructural features.