Corrosion Behavior of Cobalt–Chromium‐Based Laser Claddings Reinforced with Boron Nitride, Graphene Oxide, and Graphite.

Abstract

In this article, the corrosion resistance of a cobalt–chromium‐based laser cladding reinforced with different microparticles: boron nitride, graphene oxide, and graphite, added for increased tribological performance, is explored. Samples are fabricated by premixing cobalt–chromium powder with microparticle additions and cladding onto 316L stainless steel base metal. The corrosion behavior is measured in industrially relevant applications: 1 m acetic acid and 3.5 wt% NaCl, using open‐circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, linear polarization resistance, and cyclic polarization. Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry is used to analyze the distribution of the chemical elements throughout the coatings. The reference cladding's corrosion resistance is outstanding in both electrolytes, with a corrosion rate (CR) of ≤0.19 μm year−1 and no pitting tendencies. With the addition of microparticles, the claddings maintain their remarkable pitting resistance, but show an increase in CR up to 0.98 μm year−1 due to the nonuniform distribution of the microparticles into the matrix.