Improving the bending and corrosion resistance of an enamel by the addition of β-Si3N4 whiskers

Enamel–metal composite materials with high strength and corrosion resistance are often used for fabricating enameled pressure vessels for pharmaceutical and chemical production. However, the low bending resistance of the enamel can result in the cracking and delamination of the enamel layer, leading to the loss of corrosion resistance of the enameled pressure vessel, which can result in accidents. Here, based on the goal of increasing the bending resistance of the enamel to prolong its service life, the effect of β-Si₃N₄ whiskers on the mechanical properties of enamel was studied by three-point bending tests. The effect of β-Si₃N₄ whiskers on the acid and alkali corrosion resistance of enamel was studied using aqueous H₂SO₄ and NaOH solutions, respectively. A sudden change in the force of an enameled sample under the three-point bending test was used to evaluate the bending resistance of the enamel–metal samples, and can also be used to evaluate the mechanical properties of other comparable materials. With the addition of 0.5 wt% β-Si₃N₄ whiskers, the bending resistance was significantly improved, along with the acid and alkali corrosion resistance. These findings are expected to provide guidance for the design and production of enamel-metal vessels with improved performance that can significantly lengthen the service life of enameled pressure vessels and reduce the occurrence of accidents.