Strategies for corrosion protection of non-ferrous metals and alloys through surface engineering

Abstract

Abstract In the modern world, surface engineering technologies have been playing an important role to overcome in-service degradation of ferrous and non-ferrous materials. In this context, the primary objective of this article is to comprehensively review the corrosion behaviour of protective coatings deposited through different surface engineering technologies namely (a) Thermal spray techniques such as plasma spray, high velocity oxy-fuel spray, detonation spray and cold spray; (b) Electrolytic processes including anodizing, hard anodizing, hard chrome plating, electroplating, pulse electrodeposition and micro arc oxidation; (c) Physical vapour deposition techniques namely magnetron sputtering and cathodic arc; (d) sol-gel coatings; and (e) laser materials processing on a variety of non-ferrous materials. The process-structure-property-performance aspects of these coatings are critically reviewed which indeed was the basis for their industrial adaptation in textile, naval, automotive, aerospace, mobile communications, power generation, energy management, electronics and strategic sectors. The critical strategies and challenges associated with each processing technique and the resultant corrosion behaviour were highlighted. In addition, the future R&D direction in each of the aforementioned processes and materials were identified and discussed.