Use of SVET and SECM to study the galvanic corrosion of an iron-zinc cell

The work makes use of the scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) and the scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) to investigate microscopic aspects of the electrochemical reactions that occur in an iron-zinc galvanic couple immersed in aqueous sodium chloride solution. Detection of the corrosion processes was made by sensing the phenomena occurring in solution. The SVET provided information on the distribution of ionic currents arising from the metal surface, whereas the SECM measured the concentration of chemical species relevant to the corrosion processes. The two techniques had comparable sensitivity for the corrosion of iron but significant differences were observed concerning the detection of corrosion of zinc.     

The corrosion of Fe3Al alloy in liquid zinc

A systematic study of the isothermal corrosion testing and microscopic examination of Fe₃Al alloy in liquid zinc containing small amounts of aluminum (less than 0.2 wt.%) at 450 °C was carried out in this work. The results showed the corrosion of Fe₃Al alloy in molten zinc was controlled by the dissolution mechanism. The alloy exhibited a regular corrosion layer, constituted of small metallic particles (diameter: 2-5 μm) separated by channels filled with liquid zinc, which represented a porosity of about 29%. The XRD result of the corrosion layer formed at the interface confirmed the presence of Zn and FeZn_6.67. The corrosion rate of Fe₃Al alloy in molten zinc was calculated to be approximately 1.5 × 10⁻⁷ g cm⁻² s⁻¹. Three steps could occur in the whole process: the superficial dissolution of metallic Cr in the corrosion layer, the new phase formation of FeZn_6.67 and the diffusion of the dissolved species in the channels of the corrosion layer.     

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.     

Fabrication and characteristics of novel microelectronic structures fabricated by plasma-based techniques

A number of novel microelectronic structures have recently been produced using plasma-based techniques such as plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) and this paper describes the recent progress made in this area in our laboratory. Conventional silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates utilizing a buried silicon dioxide layer suffer from self-heating effects as device dimensions shrink to the deep-submicrometer regime. Novel SOI structures using dielectric materials with higher thermal conductance such as aluminum nitride and diamond-like carbon have been produced. In the area of high-k (dielectric constant) thin films, plasma nitridation conducted on materials such as zirconium dioxide improves the recrystallization and interfacial properties. In the conventional Smart-Cut™ or ion-cut technique, high-energy hydrogen implantation is performed to effect layer transfer. Low-energy (several hundred eVs) plasma hydrogenation has recently been conducted in conjunction with damage engineering to produce wafer splitting for layer transfer. This new process allows more flexible control of the depth of hydrogen accumulation and the location of layer cleavage.     

Surface modification and characterizations of basalt fibers with non-thermal plasma

Atmospheric-pressure non-thermal plasmas have been increasingly promoted for polymer surface modification. In this paper, atmospheric-pressure plasmas of oxygen, argon, hydrogen and mixture gases of nitrogen and hydrogen were used to surface modification of basalt fibers in order to illuminate their chemical durability, surface active groups and roughness etc. The plasma-induced surface changes on morphologies and active groups were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results exhibited a remarkable increase in chemical stability and excellent adhesion, accompanied by extensive etching and by the implantation of both oxygen- and nitrogen-containing polar groups such as NH₂, OH and so forth. Etching of oxygen was mainly a consequence of ion bombardment, yielding low molecular weight and roughness, while surface chemical modifications of mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen were mainly due to the action of neutral species on the plasma-activated basalt fiber surface. The possible formation mechanism of functional groups on the basalt fiber surface was presented.     

Electrochemical behaviors of TiO2−x films synthesized by plasma-based ion implantation and deposition in fibrinogen containing PBS solution

TiO_2−x films were synthesized on carbon by plasma-based ion implantation and deposition (PBII-D). Electrochemical behaviors of the prepared films were investigated in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and fibrinogen containing PBS solution (PBS(Fn)), to probe charge transfer phenomena between TiO_2−x film and fibrinogen. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as well as simulated values of equivalent circuit units including reaction resistance and electric double layer has been obtained, indicating different charge transfer rate occurred across the interfaces. The shape of Mott-Schottky spectroscopy around the rest-open potential indicates that TiO_2−x films are typical n-type semiconductor. Donor density results calculated by Mott-Schottky theory show that TiO_2−x films exhibit higher donor density in PBS(Fn) than in PBS, indicating charge transfer from fibrinogen to TiO_2−x films, and the space charge layers bend lower.     

Characterization of in situ synthesized TiC particle reinforced Fe-based composite coatings produced by multi-pass overlapping GTAW melting process

In this paper, in situ synthesized TiC particles reinforced Fe-based surface composite coatings by multi-pass overlapping gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) melting process employing a proper amount of graphite and ferrotitanium (FeTi) on AISI 1020 steel substrate was produced. The microstructure and wear properties of the composite coatings were investigated by means of an electron microprobe microanalysis (EPMA), X-ray diffractometer and wear tester. The results showed that the multi-pass overlapping GTAW melting surface composite coatings can be obtained under suitable welding parameters, and no crack and porosity are found in the tracks. The X-ray and EPMA results confirm that TiC particles can be formed via reaction of FeTi and graphite during multi-pass overlapping GTAW melting process. TiC particles present cubic and dendrite shape in the non-overlapping zone. It is found that there occurred TiC particles coarsening at the overlap regions, which can lead to detrimental effects on the hardness and wear performance. Composite coatings give a high hardness and excellent wear resistance; and the wear friction coefficient of the coating is less than that of the 1020 steel. As a result, multi-pass overlapping GTAW melting process can be used effectively for producing surface composite coatings with a pre-placed powder to improve wear resistance of the AISI 1020 steel.     

Effect of Si addition to CrN coatings on the corrosion resistance of CrN/stainless steel coating/substrate system in a deaerated 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution

CrSiN coatings with different Si concentration (Si/(Cr + Si) ratio: 0, 3.7, 11.7, 20%) were deposited on stainless steel substrates using a closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering (CFUBM) system. The variation in the microstructure of the films with the Si concentration was measured by XRD. The corrosion behavior of the CrSiN coatings in a deaerated 3.5% NaCl solution was investigated by potentiodynamic tests, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and surface analyses. The microstructure of the CrSiN film was found to depend on the Si concentration. The results of the potentiodynamic polarization tests showed that the corrosion current density and porosity decreased with increasing Si/(Cr + Si) ratio. The EIS measurements showed that the corrosion resistance of the Si-bearing CrN was improved by the phase transformation of the film, which led to an increase in the pore resistance and charge transfer resistance. The Si-bearing CrN possesses the best corrosion resistance at a Si/(Cr + Si) ratio of 20%, measured by the maximization of the pore resistance and charge transfer resistance.     

Effects of NH4F on the deposition rate and buffering capability of electroless Ni-P plating solution

The deposition rate and buffering capability of alkaline electroless Ni-P plating solution containing ammonium fluoride (NH₄F) have been investigated. When the NH₄F concentration is below 10 g L^− 1, the deposition rate is improved with the addition of NH₄F, reaching the maximum value at 2 g L^− 1. The buffering capability of solutions is found to be improved with increasing NH₄F concentration. Due to the improvement of buffering capability, refined and compact Ni-P coatings with homogeneous elemental distribution of P have been achieved. Therefore, both the corrosion resistance and microhardness of Ni-P coatings are significantly improved. The mechanism of NH₄F improving the deposition rate and the buffering capability is discussed.     

Durability of aminosilane-silica hybrid gas-barrier coatings on polymers

Aminosilane solutions with pH equal to 8 and to 11 were applied and cured on SiO₂-coated poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films. The permeability of the silane-silica hybrid coating on PET was reduced twofold compared to that of the SiO₂/PET film, at solution concentrations as low as 1 wt.%, irrespective of the pH. This concentration level led to a dense silane monolayer crosslinked to the silica surface. The oxygen transport mechanisms in the hybrid coatings were determined based on the thermally activated rate theory. Permeation experiments were also performed under tensile loading, and the critical strain for loss of barrier performance was found to be improved by a factor of two, only in case of basic pH. The defect population and morphology of the hybrid coating subjected to hydrothermal aging were analyzed using a reactive ion etching method and atomic force microscopy, respectively. These experiments confirmed the defect healing action of the aminosilane at low concentrations in solution, through the formation of a densely crosslinked polysiloxane layer at the silane-silica interface for both pH8 and pH11. The influence of the silane treatment was emphasized in case of basic pH due to the dissolution of superficial oxide layers.