• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2013

Polymer exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells have multifunctional properties, and bipolar plates are one of the key components in these fuel cells. Generally, a bipolar plate has a gas flow path for hydrogen and oxygen liberated at the anode and cathode, respectively. In this study, the influence of iodine applied to a bipolar plate was investigated. Accordingly, we compared bipolar plates with and without iodine coating, and the performances of these plates were evaluated under operating conditions of $75^{\circ}C$ and 100% relative humidity. The membrane and platinum-carbon layer were affected by the iodine-coated bipolar plate. Bipolar plates coated with iodine and a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) were investigated by electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Polarization curves showed that the performance of a coated bipolar plate is approximately 19% higher than that of a plate without coating. Moreover, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis revealed that charge transfer resistance and membrane resistance decreased with the influence of the iodine charge transfer complex for fuel cells on the performance.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.64-68
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• 2009

It has been observed that coated steel structures deteriorate more rapidly than the designed lifetime due to acid rain caused by air pollution, etc. Therefore, improving the corrosion resistance of anti-corrosive paint is very important in terms of safety and the economic point of view. In this study, the corrosion resistance of five kinds of anti-corrosive paints, including the Acryl, Fluorine, and Epoxy resin series, were investigated with electrochemical methods, such as corrosion potential measurements, polarization curves, diffusion limiting current density, etc. As a result, the corrosion resistance of the F101 specimen with the fluorine resin series was found to be superior to the other specimens, while E100 with the epoxy resin series also showed a somewhat good corrosion resistance. Furthermore, it was observed that the amount of water and oxygen entering the inner side of a painted film increased with an increase in immersion time, irrespective of the kind of resin series. However, the oxygen diffusion limiting current density of a specimen with good corrosion resistance was relatively decreased compared to other specimens, because of the difficulty of oxygen diffusion penetrating to the inner side of the film. Consequently it is suggested that we can qualitatively evaluate the corrosion resistance of an anti-corrosive paint by measuring the diffusion limiting current density as an electrochemical method.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.29-30
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• 2001

This paper presents some results of plasma nitriding on hard chromium deposit. The substrates were C45 steel and $30~50{\;}\mu\textrm{m}$ of chromium deposit by electroplating was formed. Plasma nitriding was carried out in a plasma nitriding system with $95NH_3{\;}+{\;}SCH_4$ atmosphere at the pressure about 600 Pa and different temperature from $450^{\circ}C{\;}to{\;}720^{\circ}C$ for various time. Optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to evaluate the characteristics of surface nitride layer formed by nitrogen diffusion from plasma atmosphere inward iCr coating and interface carbide layer formed by carbon diffusion from substrate outward Cr coating. The microhardness was measured using microhareness tester at the load of 100 gf. Corrosion resistance was evaluated using the potentiodynamic measurement in 3.5% NaG solution. A saturated calomel electrode (SiCE) was used as the reference electrode. Fig.1 shows the typical microstructures of top surface and cross-section for nitrided and unnitrided samples. Aaer plasma nitriding a sandwich structure was formed consisting of surface nitride layer, center chromium layer and interface carbide layer. The thickness of nitride and carbide layers was increased with the increase of processing temperature and time. Hardness reached about 1000Hv after nitriding while 900Hv for unnitrided hard chromium deposit. X-ray diffraction indicated that surface nitrided layer was a mixture of $Cr_2N$ and CrN at low temperature and erN at high temperature (Fig.2). Anodic polarization curves showed that plasma nitriding can greatly improve the corrosion resistance of chromium e1ectrodeposit. After plasma nitriding, the corrosion potential moved to noble direction and passive current density was lower by 1 to 4 orders of magnitude compared with chromium deposit(Fig.3).

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.67-67
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• 2001

The structure zone model has been used to provide an overview of the relationship between the microstructure of the films deposited by PVD and the most prominent deposition condition.s. B.AMovchan and AV.Demchishin have proposed it firstls such model. They concluded that the general features of the resulting structures could be correlated into three zones depending on $T/T_m$. Here T m is the melting point of the coating material and T is the substrate temperature in kelvines. Zone 1 ($T/Tm_) is dominated by tapered macrograins with domed tops, zone 2 ($O.3) by columnar grains with denser boundaries and zone 3 ($T/T_m>O.5$) by equiaxed grains formed by recrystallization. J.AThomton has extended this model to include the effect of the sputtering gas pressure and found a fourth zone termed zone T(transition zone) consisting of a dense array of poorly defined fibrous grains. R.Messier found that the zone I-T boundary (fourth zone of Thorton) varies in a fashion similar to the film bias potential as a function of gas pressure. However, there has not nearly enough model for explaining the change in morphology with crystal orientation of the films. The structure zone model only provide an information about the morphology of the deposited film. In general, the nucleation and growth mechanism for granular and fine structure of the deposited films are very complex in an PVD technique because the morphology and orientation depend not only on the substrate temperature but also on the energy of deposition of the atoms or ions, the kinetic mechanism between metal atoms and argon or nitrogen gas, and even on the presence of impurities. In order to clarify these relationship, AI and Mg thin films were prepared on SPCC steel substrates by PVD techniques. The influence of gas pressures and bias voltages on their crystal orientation and morphology of the prepared films were investigated by SEM and XRD, respectively. And the effect of crystal orientation and morphology of the prepared films on corrosion resistance was estimated by measuring polarization curves in 3% NaCI solution.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.202-210
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• 2016

This study was intended to investigate the effect of the amount of magnesium addition and heat treatment in the Al-Mg coating film in order to improve corrosion resistance of aluminum coating. Al-Mg alloy films were deposited on cold rolled steel by physical vapor deposition sputtering method. Heat treatment was fulfilled in an nitrogen atmosphere at the temperature of $400^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. The morphology was observed by SEM, component and phase of the deposited films were investigated by using GDLS and XRD, respectively. The corrosion behaviors of Al-Mg films were estimated by exposing salt spray test at 5 wt.% NaCl solution and measuring polarization curves in deaerated 3 wt.% NaCl solution. With the increase of magnesium content, the morphology of the deposited Al-Mg films changed from columnar to featureless structure and particle size was became fine. The x-ray diffraction data for deposited Al-Mg films showed only pure Al peaks. However, Al-Mg alloy peaks such as $Al_3Mg_2$ and $Al_{12}Mg_{17}$ were formed after heat treatment. All the sputtered Al-Mg films obviously showed good corrosion resistance compared with aluminum and zinc films. And corrosion resistance of Al-Mg film was increased after heat treatment.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.366-372
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• 2017

Plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO) has attracted attention as a surface treatment which has high wear resistance and corrosion resistance. PEO is generally considered as cost-effective, environmentally friendly and superior in terms of coating performance. Most of studies about the PEO processes have been applied to light metals such as Al and Mg. Because the strength of Al and Mg is weaker than that of steel, there is a limit to the application. In this study, PEO process was used to form oxide coatings on Hot dipped aluminized(HDA) steel and the characteristics of the coating film according to the PEO current density were studied. The morphology was observed by SEM and component was analyzed by using EDS. The corrosion behaviors of PEO coating films were estimated by exposing salt spray test at 5 wt.% NaCl solution and measuring polarization curves in deaerated 3 wt.% NaCl solution. With the increase of PEO process current density, the pore size of the coating surface and the thickness of coating increased. It was confirmed that no Fe component was present on the coating surface. PEO coating films obviously showed good corrosion resistance compared with HDA. It is considered that the PEO coating acts as a barrier to protect the base material from external factors causing corrosion.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.117-123
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• 2011

We investigated the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of the citrate-based CuNi solution at different solution pH and analyzed various surface properties of CuNi codeposition layer. By combining UV-Visible spectroscopic data with potentiodynamic polarization curves, it could be found that the complexation of $Ni^{2+}$-citrate pair was completed at lower solution pH than $Cu^{2+}$-citrate pair and was affected by the coexistent $Cu^{2+}$ ions, while the complexation between $Cu^{2+}$ ions and citrate was not sensitive to the presence of $Ni^{2+}$ ions. Also, the electron transfer from cathode to $Cu^{2+}$-citrate and$Ni^{2+}$-citrate was hindered by strong complexation between $Cu^{2+}/Ni^{2+}$ ions and citrate and so apparent codeposition current densities were reduced as the solution pH increases. CuNi codeposited layers had a higher Cu content when they were prepared at high pH solution due to the suppression of Ni deposition, and when codeposition was executed in an agitated condition due to the acceleration of mass transfer of $Cu^{2+}$ ions in the solution. Actually, solution pH had little effect on the surface morphology and deposits orientation, but greatly influenced the corrosion resistance in 3.5% NaCl solution by modifying the chemical composition of CuNi layers and so pH 3 was expected as the most suitable solution pH in the viewpoint of corrosion coatings.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.311-319
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• 2023

This work was performed to characterize the electrochemical behavior of AZ31 Mg alloy in neutral aqueous solutions where Cl^-, SO₄^2-, PO₄^3-, and F^- ions were present and pH was adjusted to 6 to exclude the contribution of H⁺ and OH^- ions. Open-circuit potential (OCP) transient, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potnetiodynamic polarization curves were employed. The OCP value appeared to decrease in the order of F^- > Cl^- > SO₄^2- > PO₄^3- ions while corrosion current density increased in the same order. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data showed two capacitive arcs in all the solutions and one more inductive arc appeared in PO₄^3--containing solution. By fitting of two capacitive arcs, capacitance of dense film (C_df), resistance of porous film (R_pf) and double layer capacitance (C_dl) and charge transfer resistance (R_ct) beneath the porous films were obtained. A simplified model in which various thicknesses and coverages of dense and porous films are assumed to be present on the AZ31 Mg alloy surface, is suggested to explain the effects of four different anions on the electrochemical behavior of AZ31 Mg alloy.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2011

Many protection methods such as surface coating, electric protection, or other methods have been applied to the numerous steel structures widely used in continental and marine areas to control their corrosion, which is done from an economic point of view. Most of these steel structures are primarily protected by coating methods. However, some steel piles under seawater are protected by the electric protection method, that is, either using an impressed current or a sacrificial anode method. Furthermore, environmental contamination may cause a severely corrosive environment, which, in turn, causes the accelerated corrosion of steel structures. Subsequently, coated steel structures could deteriorate more rapidly than the designed lifetime because of the acid rain caused by air pollution, etc. Therefore, a coating of marine paint exposed to seawater, that is, underwater hardening painting, is increasingly required to be fast drying as well as highly corrosion resistant. In this study, five types of underwater hardening paints were prepared with different resin series and additives. Their corrosion and water resistances were investigated using electrochemical methods such as corrosion potential, polarization curves, impedance and cyclic voltammogram measurements, etc. Even though it is generally accepted that the corrosion resistance of bare steel tends to increase with a shift of the corrosion potential in the noble direction, the corrosion resistance of a sample with a coating exhibited a relatively better tendency when it had a lower corrosion potential in this study. The corrosion current density was also decreased with a decrease in the diffusion limiting current density, which may mean that there is some relationship between corrosion and water resistance. The S sample of the ceramic resin series showed the relatively best corrosion and water resistance among those of samples, while the worst corrosion and water resistance were observed for the R sample of the epoxy resin series. The corrosion and water resistance of those samples tended to deteriorate with an increase in the immersion days, and their corrosion and water resistances were considered to be apparently improved by the types of resin and additives.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.356-362
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• 2014

Wear and corrosion of the engine parts surrounded with combustion chamber is more serious compared to the other parts of the engine because temperature of the exhaust gas in a combustion chamber is getting higher and higher with increasing of using the heavy oil of low quality. Therefore, an optimum repair weldment as well as an available choice of the base metal for these parts are very important to prolong their lifetime in a economical point of view. It reported that there was an experimental result for repair weldment on the forged steel which would be generally used with piston crown material, however, it is considered that there is no study for the repair weldment on the cast steel of piston crown material. In this study, four types of electrodes such as 1.25Cr-0.5Mo, 0.5Mo Inconel 625 and 718 were welded with SMAW and GTAW methods on the cast steel which would be generally used with piston crown material. And the corrosion properties of weld metal, heat affected zone and base metal were investigated using electrochemical methods such as measurement of corrosion potential, anodic polarization curves, cyclic voltammogram and impedance etc. in 35% $H_2SO_4$ solution. In the cases of Inconel 625, 718, the weld metals and base metals exhibited the best and worst corrosion resistance respectively, however, 1.25Cr-0.5Mo and 0.5Mo indicated that corrosion resistance of the base metal was better than the weld metal. And the weld metal welded with electrodes of Inconel 625 revealed the best corrosion resistance among the electrodes, and Inconel 718 followed the Inconel 625. Hardness relatively also indicated higher value in the weld metal compared to heat affected zone and base metal. In particular, Inconel 718 indicated the highest value of hardness compared to other electrodes in the heat affected zone.