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WOS: 000446711300053, The corrosion resistances of three different thermochemical coatings (grown using titanizing, boriding, and borotitanizing treatments) applied to STKM-13A steel surfaces were investigated. The coatings were characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, 2D profilometry, and microhardness experiments. The corrosion tests were conducted using both electrochemical and static immersion methods, in 3.5 pct NaCl and 40 pct HF acid solutions, respectively. The corrosion resistance of STKM-13A steel was enhanced after the coating process. The specimens were exposed to more corrosion in the HF solution than in the NaCl solution. The best corrosion resistance was obtained in the borotitanized and borided specimens immersed in the NaCl and HF solutions, respectively. The borided STKM-13A steel sample showed even less cumulative weight loss than Inconel 625 in the static immersion HF acid solution test. This suggests potential use of the borided STKM-13A steel in the uranium production units of nuclear power plants as an alternative to more costly alternatives such as Monel, Inconel, and Hastelloy. (C) The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International 2018

Corrosion of boiler tubes remains an operational and economic limitation in municipal waste power plants. The understanding of the nature, mechanism, and related factors can help reduce the degradation process caused by corrosion. The chlorine content in the fuel has a significant effect on the production of gaseous components (e.g., HCl) and condensed phases on the chloride base. This study aimed to analyze the effects of flue gases on the outer surface and saturated steam on the inner surface of the evaporator tube. The influence of gaseous chlorides and sulfates or their deposits on the course and intensity of corrosion was observed. The salt melts reacted with the steel surface facing the flue gas flow and increased the thickness of the oxide layer up to a maximum of 30 mm. On the surface not facing the flue gas flow, they disrupted the corrosive layer, reduced its adhesion, and exposed the metal surface. Beneath the massive deposits, a local overheating of the inner surface of the evaporator tubes occurred, which resulted in the release of the protective magnetite layer from the surface. Ash deposits reduce the boiler’s thermal efficiency because they act as a thermal resistor for heat transfer between the flue gases and the working medium in the pipes. The effect of insufficient feedwater treatment was evinced in the presence of mineral salts in the corrosion layer on the inner surface of the tube.

The influence of steel surface finishing and pH of simulated concrete pore solutions (SCPS) on the chloride threshold value (CTV) was evaluated. Steel samples were analysed, with four different finishes: as received (T), diamond-polished (D), polished (P500) and pre-oxidized (DH). The studies were performed in SCPS with pH values of 11.6 and 13.5, and of different chloride concentrations. The electrochemical behaviour of the samples was assessed using open circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarization curves and scanning vibrating electrode techniques. The surface of the steel samples was observed by optical microscopy and SEM/EDS. The results showed that the samples were ranked D > DH > P500 > T for the CTV after which pitting corrosion occurs. The highest chloride threshold value was found in D samples.

A state of titanium oxide and oxynitride coatings on L316 steel has been studied before and after their contact with model biological fluids. Electrokinetic investigation in 1 mmol potassium chloride showed significant (more than 10 times) fall of magnitude of electrostatic potential of thin (200–300 nm) titanium films at pH changing in the range of 5–9 units during 2 h. Nevertheless, zeta-potential of all samples had negative charge under pH > 6.5. Long-term (5 weeks) contact of samples with simulated body fluid (SBF) promoted steel corrosion and titanium oxide and oxynitride films dissolution. On the other hand, sodium and chloride ions precipitation and sodium chloride crystals formation occurred on the samples. Of positive fact is an absence of calcification of tested artificial surfaces in conditions of long-term being in SBF solution. It is supposed decreasing hazard of fast thrombosis and loss of materials functional properties. According to in vitro experiment conducted, prospective biocompatibility of materials tested before and after their contact with SBF lines up following manner: Ti–O–N (1/3) > Ti–O–N (1/1), TiO2 > Steel. It may be explained by: 1) the corrosion-preventive properties of thin titanium oxide and oxynitride films;2) a store of surface negative charge for Ti–O–N (1/3) film; 3) minor augmentation of mass and thickness of titanium films connected with speed of mineralization processes on the interface of solution/solid body. At the same time, initial (before SBF contact) differences of samples wettability became equal. Modifying effect of model biological fluids on physicochemical characteristics of materials tested (roughness enhancement, a reduction or reversion of surface negative potential, sharp augmentation of surface hydrofilicity) should took into account under titanium oxide and oxynitride films formation and a forecast of their optimal biological properties as the materials for cardiovascular stents.

This paper concentrates on observations of the surface topography by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on alloyed and stainless steels samples treated by ultrashort laser pulses with duration of 210 fs and 6.7 ps. Globular-like and jet-like objects were found depending on the various levels of the fluence applied. It is shown that these features appear due to solid-liquid and liquid-gas transitions within surface layer irradiated by intense laser light. The observations are confronted to the theory of short-pulsed laser light-matter interactions, including interference, excitation of electrons, electron-phonon coupling as well as subsequent ablation. It is shown that the orientation of small ripples does not always depend on the direction of the polarization of laser light. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Over the last 25 years, cathodic protection (CP) of reinforced concrete structures suffering from chloride induced reinforcement corrosion has shown to be successful and durable. CP current causes steel polarisation, electrochemical reactions and ion transport in the concrete. CP systems are designed based on experience, which results in conservative designs and their performance is a matter of wait-and-see. CP systems can be designed for critical aspects and made more economical using numerical models for current and polarisation distribution. Previously, principles of numerical calculations for design of CP systems were reported. The results were satisfactory, except in terms of current density for active corroding systems. This was suggested to be due to neglecting beneficial effects of CP current flow. One of the beneficial effects is pH increase at the steel surface due to oxygen reduction. As the pH increases, the corrosion rate decreases and the current demand decreases. A simple model was set up for this transient process, suggesting that such effects should occur on the time scale of hours to days. This model was validated from start up data of a CP field trial system on part of a bridge. Field results confirmed the modelling proposed here. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study on friction characteristics of plasma, salt‐bath and gas nitrided layers produced in AISI 304 type austenitic and AISI 420 type martensitic stainless steels.Design/methodology/approachPlasma nitriding processes were carried out with DC‐pulsed plasma in 80% N2+20% H2 atmosphere at 450°C and 520°C for 8 h at a pressure of 2 mbar. Salt‐bath nitriding was performed in a cyanide‐cyanate salt‐bath at 570°C for 1.5 h. Gas nitriding was also conducted in NH3 and CO2 atmosphere at 570°C for 13 h. Characterization of all nitrided samples has been carried out by means of microstructure, microhardness, surface roughness measurement and friction coefficient. The morphologies of the worn surfaces of the nitrided samples were also observed using a scanning electron microscope. Friction characteristics of the nitrided samples have been investigated using a ball‐on‐disc friction and wear tester with a WC‐Co ball as the counterface under dry sliding conditions.FindingsThe plasma nitrided and salt‐bath nitrided layers on the 420 steel surfaces were much thicker than on the 304 steel surfaces. However, there was no obvious and homogeneous nitrided layer on the gas nitrided samples' surface. The plasma and salt‐bath nitriding techniques significantly increased the surface hardness of the 304 and 420 samples. The highest surface hardness of the 304 nitrided samples was obtained by the plasma nitrided technique at 520°C. On the other hand, the highest surface hardness of the 420 nitrided layers was observed in the 450°C plasma nitrided layer. Experimental friction test results showed that the salt‐bath and 450°C plasma nitrided layers were more effective in reducing the friction coefficient of the 304 and 420 stainless steels, respectively.Originality/valueThe relatively poor hardness and hence wear resistance of austenitic and martensitic stainless steels needs to be improved. Friction characteristic is a key property of performance for various applications of austenitic and martensitic stainless steels. This work has reported a comparison of friction characteristics of austenitic 304 and martensitic 420 stainless steels, modified using plasma, salt‐bath and gas nitriding processes. The paper is of significances for improving friction characteristics, indirectly wear performances, of austenitic and martensitic stainless steels.

Different thermal treatments were performed for the anti-oxidation of steel surfaces, and the processes were investigated ex-situ and in-situ by surface sensitive reflection mode EXAFS experiments at the Cr and Fe K-edges. While the samples for the ex-situ studies were heat-treated in a conveyor belt furnace at temperatures between 600 and 900 °C in inert carrier gases (N2 or Ar) using different additives such as hydrogen (H2) and monosilane (SiH4), the in- situ anti-oxidation treatments have been performed in a high vacuum environment (p < 10-6 mbar). While the ex-situ experiments suggest that SiH4-additives are needed for the reduction of the steel to a metallic state, the in-vacuum treatments appear successful for temperatures above approx. 900 °C. DFG/FR 1388/8-1 DFG/Ma 1175/48-1

In case of in-vessel corium retention during a severe accident in a light water reactor, weakening of the vessel wall and deterioration of the vessel steel properties can be caused both by the melting of the steel and by its physicochemical interaction with corium. The interaction behavior has been studied in medium-scale experiments with prototypic corium. The experiments yielded data for the steel corrosion rate during interaction with UO 2+x -ZrO 2 -FeO y melt in air and steam at different steel surface temperatures and heat fluxes from the corium to the steel. It has been observed that the corrosion rates in air and steam atmosphere are almost the same. Further, if the temperature at the interface increases beyond a certain level, corrosion intensifies. This is explained by the formation of liquid phases in the interaction zone. The available experimental data have been used to develop a correlation for the corrosion rate as afunction of temperature and heat flux.