Structure and Corrosion Resistance of Iron Coatings Containing Silicon Powders

Abstract

Fe + Si coatings were prepared by iron deposition from a bath containing a suspension of silicon powders. These coatings were obtained at galvanostatic conditions, at the current density of jdep=−0.020 A cm−2 and at the temperature of 338 K. For determination of the influence of phase composition and surface morphology of these coatings on changes in the corrosion resistance, these coatings were modified in an argon atmosphere by thermal treatment at 873 K for 2h. A scanning electron microscope was used for surface morphology characterization of the coatings. The chemical composition of the coatings was determined by EDS and phase composition investigations were conducted by X-ray diffraction. It was found that the as-deposited coatings consist of a two-phase structure, i.e., iron and silicon. The phase composition for the Fe + Si coatings after thermal treatment is markedly different. The main peaks corresponding to Fe and Si coexist with the new phases: FeSi. Electrochemical corrosion resistance investigations were carried out in 3.5wt% NaCl, using potentiodynamic and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. On the basis of these investigations it was found that the Fe + Si coatings after thermal treatment are more corrosion resistant in 3.5wt% NaCl solution than the as-deposited coatings. The reasons for this are a reduction in the amount of free iron and silicon, the presence of new phases (in particular silicides), and a decrease of the active surface area of the coatings after thermal treatment.