• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.295-307
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• 2021

Effects of ε-carbide (Fe_2.4C) on corrosion and hydrogen diffusion behaviors of ultra-strong steel sheets for automotive application were investigated using a number of experimental and analytical methods. Results of this study showed that the type of iron carbide precipitated during tempering treatments conducted at below A₁ temperatures had a significant influence on corrosion kinetics. Compared to a steel sample with cementite (Fe₃C), a steel sample with ε-carbide (Fe_2.4C) showed higher corrosion resistance during a long-term exposure to a neutral aqueous solution. In addition, the diffusion kinetics of hydrogen atoms formed by electrochemical corrosion reactions in the steel matrix with ε-carbide were slower than the steel matrix with cementite because of a comparatively higher binding energy of hydrogen with ε-carbide. These results suggest that designing steels with fine ε-carbide distributed uniformly throughout the matrix can be an effective technical strategy to ensure high resistance to hydrogen embrittlement induced by aqueous corrosion.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.196-203
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• 2021

To improve corrosion resistance and reduce the hydrogen uptake of 22MnB5, up to 5% Mg was added to the AlSi coating of 22MnB5. After hot-stamping and electrocoating were done on the metallic-coated specimen, the surface characteristics of the steel, hydrogen uptake content, and corrosion resistance were examined by transmittance electron microscopy, thermal desorption spectrometry, cyclic corrosion testing, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Mg was investigated as MgO on the surface layer after hot-stamping while it existed as Mg₂Si before hot-stamping. The total hydrogen content of 22MnB5 was decreased along with the Mg content. However, there was no difference at 0.2 wt% or more. When a small amount of Mg was added, the coating corrosion resistance was decreased, but when it was added at around 1.0 wt%, the greatest corrosion resistance increase was seen. However, when 3 wt% or more was added excessively, the corrosion resistance was decreased. MgO on the surface was considered to suppress H uptake by the AlSi melting solution and increase the barrier effect of the coating.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.148-153
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• 2019

Pure nickel with a thickness of 1 mm was plated on type 304 stainless steels and low alloy steels (JIS G3131 SPHC) by electrolytic plating method in a circulating plating bath. Plating performance, mechanical properties, and surface characteristics were evaluated in terms of pretreatment process, anode material, pH, current density, and flow rate of the plating solution. Addition of hydrochloric acid during pre-treatment process improved the adhesion performance of plating. To improve plating efficiency, it is desirable to use S-nickel rather than electrolytic nickel. The use of S-nickel was also confirmed to be desirable for maintaining the pH and concentration of the plated solution. The defect of the plating using S-nickel anode produced pit on the surface. However, it is believed that proper control can be obtained by increasing the flow rate. Internal stress and hardness values of electrolytic nickel plating according to current density need to be carried out with further studies.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.78-85
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• 2019

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will administer a new 0.5% global sulfur cap on fuel content from 1 January 2020, lowering from the present 3.5% limit. Seawater $SO_x$ (sulfur oxide) scrubbing is especially spray scrubbing and a promising alternative to complying with the IMO regulation. However, the ionization of $SO_2$ (sulfur dioxide) and the $H_2SO_4$ (sulfuric acid) formed from $SO_3$ (sulfur trioxide) is proposed to accelerate corrosion of the internal seawater pipe. Apparently, the corrosion of the scrubber seawater piping system occurs in a severe and frequent manner. Hence, in this study, electrochemical measurement and weight loss of carbon steel (used as seawater pipe in most of the ships) in diluted sulfuric acid solution were investigated to determine corrosion rate, corrosion current density, corrosion potential, electrochemical behavior, and impressed-current density. Accordingly, the corrosion rate of carbon steel sheet in various diluted sulfuric acid solutions was observed to be greater than that in natural seawater, thus suggesting the fundamental data to deal with corrosion problems in scrubber seawater pipe.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.121-128
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• 2019

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was used to predict corrosion behaviour of metallic Cultural Heritage assets in two monitoring campaigns: 1) an iron bar chain exposed indoor from over 500 years in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Amiens (France); and 2) a large weathering steel sculpture exposed outdoor from tens of years in Ferrara (Italy). The EIS portable instrument employed was battery operated. In situ EIS measurements on the iron chain could be used to investigate the phenomena involved in the electrochemical interfaces among various corrosion products and assess and predict their corrosion behaviour in different areas of the Cathedral. Meanwhile, the sculpture of weathering steel, like most outdoor artefacts, showed rust layers of different chemical composition and colour depending on the orientation of metal plates. The EIS monitoring campaign was carried out on different areas of the artefact surface, allowing assessment of their protective effectiveness. Results of EIS measurements evidenced how employing a simple test that could be performed in situ without damaging the artefacts surface is possible to quickly gain knowledge of the conservation state of an artefact and highlight potential danger conditions.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.112-117
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• 2021

Inductively coupled plasma magnetron sputtering (ICPMS) has the advantage of being able to dramatically improve coating properties by increasing the plasma ionization rate and the ion bombardment effect during deposition. Thus, this paper presents the comparative results of CrN films deposited by direct current magnetron sputtering (dcMS) and ICPMS systems. The structure, microstructure, and mechanical and corrosive properties of the CrN coatings were investigated by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, nanoindentation, and corrosion-resistance measurements. The as-deposited CrN films by ICPMS grew preferentially on a 200 plane compared to dcMS on a 111 plane. As a result, the films deposited by ICPMS had a very compact microstructure with high hardness. The nanoindentation hardness reached 19.8 GPa, and 13.5 GPa by dcMS. The corrosion current density of CrN film prepared by ICPMS was about 9.8 × 10^-6 mA/cm², which was 1/470 of 4.6 × 10^-3 mA/cm², the corrosion current density of CrN film prepared by dcMS.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.118-128
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• 2021

The oxide layer in samples taken from an irradiated Zr-2.5Nb pressure tube from a CANDU-PHWR reactor was analyzed using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The examined tube had been exposed to temperatures ranging from 264 to 306 ℃ and a neutron fluence of 8.9 × 10²¹ n/cm² (E > 1 MeV) for the maximum 10 effective full-power years in a nuclear power plant. Measuring oxide layer thickness generally employs optical microscopy. However, in this study, analysis of the oxide layer from the irradiated pressure tube components was undertaken through X-ray image mapping obtained using EPMA. The oxide layer characteristics were analyzed by X-ray image mapping with 256 × 256 pixels using EPMA. In addition, the slope of the oxide layer was measured for each location. A particular advantage of this study was that backscattered electrons and X-ray image mapping were obtained at a magnification of 9,000 when 20 kV volts and 30 uA of current were applied to radiation-shielded EPMA. The results of this study should usefully contribute to the study of the oxide layer properties of various types of metallic materials irradiated by high radiation in nuclear power plants.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.310-317
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• 2020

This study investigated the damage to the specimen due to liquid droplet impingement erosion corrosion, which improved the corrosion resistance and durability via hard anodization of 5083-H321 aluminum alloy, which is widely used for small ships and marine structures. The experiment combined liquid droplet impingement erosion and electrochemical equipment with the flow rates in natural seawater solution. Subsequently, Tafel extrapolation of polarization curves was performed to evaluate damage due to the liquid droplet impingement erosion corrosion. The damaged surface was observed using a 3D microscope and a scanning electron microscope. The degree of pitting damage was measured using the Image J program, and the surface hardness was measured using the micro-Vickers hardness tester. The corrosion current density, area, depth, and ratio of the damaged areas increased with the increase in flow rate. The grain size of the damaged area at a flow rate of 20 m s-1 showed fewer and minor differences in height, and a smooth curved shape. The hardness of the damaged surface tended to decrease with increase in flow rate.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.475-483
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• 2021

Additively manufactured titanium alloy is one of the promising materials in advanced medical industries. However, these additively manufactured alloys show corrosion properties different from those of conventional materials due to their unique microstructure. In this study, the effect of surface roughness and masking conditions on the results of the potentiodynamic polarization tests on additively manufactured or conventional Ti-6Al-4V alloys in artificial saliva solution with or without fluoride was investigated. The results showed that the corrosion potential was slightly lower with a flat cell with an O-ring than with masking tape. The corrosion rate was decreased with decreases in the surface roughness. Localized corrosion involving delamination of the surface layer occurred at 7 ~ 9 V (SSC) on the additively manufactured alloy in solution with or without fluoride when the samples were finished with 1000-grit SiC paper, whereas localized corrosion was not observed in the specimens finished with 1-㎛ alumina paste.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.171-183
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• 2022

The performance and inhibitory action of the aqueous extract of Cyperus Conglomeratus's leaves against corrosion of XC70 steel in a 1M HCl acid medium are studied by the determination of the weight loss, the potentiodynamic polarization curves analysis, and electrochemical impedance measurements (electrochemical techniques). The corrosion inhibitory efficiency of XC70 steel increases with the increasing concentration of the green inhibitor, however, the corrosion rate of the steel decreases. Weight loss measurements show that the maximum percentage corrosion inhibition efficiency is approximately 61.86%, while the analysis of the mixed character polarization curves shows that the inhibitor could achieve an inhibition efficiency of 86.96%. The electrochemical impedance study confirmed that the value of the charge transfer resistance (R_ct) increases and the value of the double layer capacity (C_dl) decreases with increasing concentration of the aqueous extract of Cyperus Conglomeratus's leaves, thus increasing the inhibition efficiency. The study showed that this aqueous extract acts by adsorption on the metal surface; this adsorption follows the Langmuir isotherm. This research work showed that Cyperus Conglomeratus leaves extract acts as an effective and eco-friendly inhibitor on mild steel in an acid medium.