• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.347-360
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• 2021

Currently, the demand for eco-friendly energy sources is high, which has prompted research on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Both aluminum alloys and nickel alloys, which are commonly considered as materials of bipolar plates in fuel cells, oxide layers formed on the metal surface have excellent corrosion resistance. In this research, the electrochemical characteristics of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and Inconel 600 were investigated with chloride concentrations in an acid environment that simulated the cathode condition of the PEMFC. After potentiodynamic polarization experiments, Tafel analysis and surface analysis were performed. Inconel 600 presented remarkably good corrosion resistance under all test conditions. The corrosion current density of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy was significantly higher than that of Inconel 600 under all test conditions. Also, 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and Inconel 600 presented uniform corrosion and intergranular corrosion, respectively. The Ni, Cr, and Fe, which are the main chemical compositions of Inconel 600, are higher than Al in the electromotive force series. And a double oxide film of NiO-Cr₂O₃, which is more stable than Al₂O₃, is formed. Thus, the corrosion resistance of Inconel 600 is better.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.466-474
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• 2021

A wet type scrubber for merchant vessel uses super austenitic stainless steels with pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN) of 40 or higher for operation in a harsh corrosive environment. However, it is expensive due to a high nickel content. Thus, electrochemical behavior and cavitation erosion characteristics of UNS S32750 as an alternative material were investigated. Microstructure analysis revealed fractions of ferritic and austenitic phases of 48% and 52%, respectively, confirming the existence of ferritic matrix and austenitic island. Potentiodynamic polarization test revealed damage at the interface of the two phases because of galvanic corrosion due to different chemical compositions of ferritic and austenitic phases. After a cavitation test, a compressive residual stress was formed on the material surface due to impact pressure of cavity. Surface hardness was improved by water cavitation peening effect. Hardness value was the highest at 30 ㎛ amplitude. Scanning electron microscopy revealed wave patterns due to plastic deformation caused by impact pressure of the cavity. The depth of surface damage increased with amplitude. Cavitation test revealed larger damage caused by erosion in the ferritic phase due to brittle fracture derived from different strain rate sensitivity index of FCC and BCC structures.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.391-402
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• 2021

In this investigation, the electrochemical characteristics of superaustenitic and general austenitic stainless steels were compared by conducting potentiodynamic polarization experiment with varying temperatures in natural seawater solution. From the result of the potentiodynamic polarization experiment, the corrosion rate of UNS S31603 was found to be 17 times faster than that of UNS N08367 under the most severe corrosion conditions. The relationship between the corrosion rate by maximum damage depth and the corrosion rate by the corrosion current density was expressed as α value for each stainless steel. The α value of UNS S31603 under all temperature conditions was higher than that of UNS N08367 under similar conditions. This means that UNS S31603 is more prone to localized corrosion than UNS N08367. UNS S31603 expressed pitting type damages under all temperature conditions as shown by SEM analysis results. The pitting damage rapidly grew at the relatively poor grain boundaries. Damage on UNS N08367 was not clearly represented at 30 ℃ and 60 ℃, and slight intergranular corrosion damage was observed on the entire surface at 90 ℃.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.158-169
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to investigate the electrochemical behavior and damage degree of metal surface under different conditions by performing a potentiodynamic polarization experiment using an electropolishing solution for UNS S31603 based on initial delay time and surface roughness (parameters). A second anodic peak occurred at initial delay time of 0s and 100s. However, it was not discovered at 1000s and 3600s. This research referred to an increase in current density due to hydrogen oxidation reaction among various hypotheses for the second anodic peak. After the experiment, both critical current density and corrosion current density decreased when the initial delay time (immersion time) was longer. As a result of surface analysis, characteristics of the potentiodynamic polarization behavior were similar with roughness, although the degree of damage was clearly different. With an increase in surface roughness value, the degree of surface damage was precisely observed. As such, electrochemical properties were different according to the immersion time in the electropolishing solution. To select electropolishing conditions such as applied current density, voltage, and immersion time, 1000s for initial delay time on the potentiodynamic polarization behavior was the most appropriate in this experiment.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.138-146
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• 2022

The cavitation and potentiodynamic polarization experiments were conducted simultaneously to investigate the effect of cavitation amplitude on the super austenitic stainless steel (UNS N08367) electrochemical behavior in seawater. The results of the potentiodynamic polarization experiment under cavitation condition showed that the corrosion current density increased with cavitation amplitude increase. Above oxygen evolution potential, the current density in a static condition was the largest because the anodic dissolution reaction by intergranular corrosion was promoted. In the static condition, intergranular corrosion was mainly observed. However, damage caused by erosion was observed in the cavitation environment. The micro-jet generated by cavity collapse destroyed the corrosion product and promoted the repassivation. So, weight loss occurred the most in static conditions. After the experiment, wave patterns were formed on the surface due to the compressive residual stress caused by the impact pressure of the cavity. Surface hardness was improved by the water cavitation peening effect, and the hardness value was the highest at 30 ㎛ amplitude. UNS N08367 with excellent mechanical performance due to its high hardness showed that cavitation inhibited corrosion damage.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.340-347
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• 2022

In this research, mixed metal oxide (TiO₂, RuO₂) coating was applied to grade 1 titanium as a bipolar plate for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Electrochemical experiments were carried out in an aqueous solution of pH 3 (H₂SO₄ + 0.1 ppm HF, 80 ℃) determined by DoE. The air was bubbled to simulate a cathode environment. Potentiodynamic polarization test revealed that corrosion current densities of the titanium substrate and MMO-coated specimen were 0.180 µA/cm² and 4.381 µA/cm², respectively. There was no active peak. After potentiostatic experiment, current densities of the titanium substrate and the MMO-coated specimen were 0.19 µA/cm² and 1.05 µA/cm², respectively. As a result of observing the surface before and after the potentiostatic experiment, cracked dried clay structures were observed without corrosion damage. Both the titanium substrate and the MMO-coated specimen could not satisfy the interfacial contact resistance suggested by the DoE. Thus, further research is needed before they could be applied as bipolar plates.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.300-313
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• 2022

Interest in polymer electrolyte fuel cell is growing to replace fossil fuels. In particular, in order to reduce the cost and volume of the fuel cell, research on a metallic bipolar plate is being actively conducted. In this research, investigated the effects of temperature and chloride concentration on the electrochemical characteristics and damage behavior of 316L stainless steel in an accelerated solution simulating the cathodic operating condition of PEMFC(Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell). As a result of the experiments, the corrosion current density, damage size, and surface roughness increased as the temperature and chloride concentration increased. In particular, the temperature had a significant effect on the stability of the oxide film of 316L stainless steel. In addition, it was described that the growth of the pit was affected by the chloride concentration rather than the temperature. As a result of calculating the corrosion tendency to compare the pitting corrosion rate and the uniform corrosion rate, the uniform corrosion tendency became larger as the temperature increased. And the effects of chloride concentration on corrosion tendency was different according to temperature.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.297-303
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• 2023

This study aimed to evaluate hydrogen permeation behaviors of pre-strained twinning-induced plasticity steel with or without Zn coating using electrochemical permeation technique. In contrast to un-strained and 30% strained samples, permeation current density was measured in the 60% strained sample. Tensile pre-straining at 60% involved microstructural modifications, including a high level of dislocation density and stacking fault with a semi-coherent twin boundary, which might provide a high diffusion path for hydrogen atoms. However, reproducibility of measurements of hydrogen permeation current was low due to non-uniform deformation and localized stress concentration. On the other hand, the permeation current was not measured in pre-strained TWIP steel with Zn coating. Instead, numerous blisters with some cracks were observed on the surface of the coating layer. In locally damaged Zn coating under tensile straining, hydrogen atoms could relatively easily permeate through the coating layer. However, they were trapped at the interface between the coating layer and the substrate, which might delay hydrogen penetration into the steel substrate.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.164-174
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• 2023

Electropolishing technology uses an electrochemical reaction and improves surface roughness, glossiness, and corrosion resistance. In this investigation, electropolishing was performed to improve the corrosion resistance of super austenitic stainless steel. As a result of electropolishing, surface roughness (0.16 ㎛) was improved by about 76.5% compared to mechanical polishing (0.68 ㎛). In addition, the electropolished surface was smooth because the average and variance values of the depth histogram were small. Tafel analysis was performed after a potentiodynamic polarization experiment with seawater temperature, and the microstructure was compared and analyzed. The corrosion current density at 30 ℃, 60 ℃, and 90 ℃ was reduced by 0.083 ㎂/cm², 0.296 ㎂/cm², and 0.341 ㎂/cm², respectively. Pitting occurred in the mechanical polished specimen at 30 ℃, but partial intergranular corrosion was observed in the electropolished specimen, and pitting occurred predominantly at both 60 ℃ and 90 ℃. In addition, the damage depths of the electropolished specimen were shallower than those of mechanical polishing at 30 ℃ and 60 ℃, but the opposite result was seen at 90 ℃.

• 한국응용과학기술학회지
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.612-621
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• 2018

본 연구에서는 전기분해 방법을 이용한 질산성질소($NO_3{^-}-N$) 분해가 $TiO_2$ nanotube plate 및 구리, 니켈, 스테인리스 스틸, 알루미늄, 주석, 티타늄을 환원전극으로 사용하였을 때 가능한지를 평가하였다. 전극의 전기화학적 특성 평가는 임피던스 측정을 하여 비교하였고, $TiO_2$ nanotube plate의 표면 분석은 주사전자현미경을 통해 SEM 및 BET 분석법을 이용한 비표면적 분석을 통해 비교하였다. 질산성질소 전해실험의 경우 90분의 실험을 진행하였으며, 실험 결과 전극 표면의 부식이 수반되지 않은 $TiO_2$ nanotube plate가 기타 금속 전극에 비해 질산성질소 환원 반응속도가 가장 뛰어난 것으로 확인되었다.