Hardness and Corrosion Resistance of Surface Composites Fabricated with Fe-based Metamorphic Powders by High-energy Electron Beam Irradiation

Surface composite layers of 1.9~2.9 mm in thickness were fabricated by depositing metamorphic powders on a carbon steel substrate and by irradiating with a high-energy electron beam. In the surface composite layers, 48~64 vol.% of $Cr_{2}B$ or $Cr_{1.65}Fe_{0.35}B_{0.96}$ borides were densely precipitated in the austenite or martensite matrix. These hard borides improved the hardness of the surface composite layer. According to the otentiodynamic polarization test results of the surface composites, coatings, STS304 stainless steel, and carbon steel substrate, the corrosion potential of the surface composite fabricated with 'C+' powders was highest, and its corrosion current density was lowest, while its pitting potential was similar to that of the STS304 steel. This indicated that the overall corrosion resistance of the surface composite fabricated with 'C+' powders was the best among the tested materials. Austenite and martensite phases of the surface composites and coatings was selectively corroded, while borides were retained inside pits. In the coating fabricated with 'C+' powders, the localized corrosion additionally occurred along splat boundaries, and thus the corrosion resistance of the coating was worse than that of the surface composite.