Optimal selection of protective coatings for stainless steel-titanium alloy fasteners based on corrosion simulation

Abstract

The Bearing Quick Release Latches (BQRL) are subjected to rainfall and other influences, which lead to galvanic corrosion due to the difference in free corrosion potential between the materials of each component. In order to improve the BQRL in the marine atmospheric environment, their surfaces are treated with a protective coating, therefore, the choice of coating is an important issue. In order to select the optimum coating, this paper develops a numerical model for the corrosion of the BQRL in the marine atmospheric environment based on the physical field of the secondary current distribution in COMSOL Multiphysics®. The electrochemical parameters of the different protective coatings are measured by electrochemical experiments and imported into COMSOL Multiphysics®. By comparing the anode current density and corrosion depth of various models, the best and worst corrosion protection solutions were identified. The current density difference between them is two orders of magnitude. The reasons for the large differences in corrosion rates are analyzed and compared with the results of experiments. This paper hopes to provide a new idea for optimal coating selection through COMSOL Multiphysics®, saving time and economic costs.