High Temperature Oxidation Resistance of Cr Coatings on 22MnB5 Steel Electroplated in Trivalent Cr Baths

Abstract

22MnB5 steel is one kind of advanced high-strength steels commonly used for vehicles to enhance passengers’ safety and reduce carbon dioxide emission[1]. However, 22MnB5 steel is vulnerable to high-temperature oxidation and a protective coating is essential to inhibit oxidation during hot stamping process. For example, hot-dip Al-10 wt % Si coating has been extensively applied on press hardening steel although it does not provide sacrificial protection on the steel parts[2]. In contrast, hot-dip Zn coating, which confers sacrificial protection, tends to suffer oxidation and liquid metal embrittlement during hot stamping[3, 4]. This study investigated the structure and properties of Cr coatings on 22MnB5 steel electroplated in a trivalent Cr (Cr(III)) bath. The DC electroplating was conducted in a chloride-based Cr(III) electrolyte with and without the addition of sulfur-containing organic compounds. The morphology, microstructure, and composition of the Cr coating were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The thickness of the deposit before and after high-temperature heat treatment (900℃ for 5 min in air) was measured using cross-sectional SEM. Experimental results show that the sulfur-containing organic compound in the electrolyte reduces the carbon content and increases the sulfur content of the Cr coating, which, in turn, reduces the residual stress of the coating. As a result, a crack-free Cr coating can be obtained in the electrolyte with the organic additive. In contrast, many cracks develop on the Cr coating plated in the electrolyte without the organic additive. After the heat treatment at 900℃ for 5 min, extensive oxidation was observed on the crack-free Cr coating, but not on the Cr coating with cracks. It is likely that the presence of sulfur in Cr coating deteriorates the oxidation resistance. Crack openings of the Cr coating free of sulfur are filled with compact oxides after 900℃heat treatment for 5 min. The steel substrate with a Cr overlay remains intact, indicating the Cr coating prevents the steel substrate from oxidation at 900℃.Finally, a 2-mm-thick Cr coating can be electroplated in the Cr(III) bath without the organic additive at a current density of 10 A/dm2and a plating time of 1 min and effectively protects the 22MnB5 steel from high-temperature oxidation. Reference [1] H. Karbasian, A.E. Tekkaya, Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 210 (2010) 2103-2118. [2] D.W. Fan, H.S. Kim, J.-K. Oh, K.-G. Chin, ISIJ international, 50 (2010) 561-568. [3] C.W. Lee, D.W. Fan, I.R. Sohn, S.-J. Lee, B.C. De Cooman, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 43 (2012) 5122-5127. [4] M. Razmpoosh, A. Macwan, E. Biro, D. Chen, Y. Peng, F. Goodwin, Y. Zhou, Materials & Design, (2018).