Potentiodynamic Polarization Tests Research Articles

Role of copper and zinc additives in the stiction phenomenon of automotive braking systems

AbstractThe braking system of a motor vehicle is a multi‐material system, subjected to various aggressive conditions. Corrosion of the brake disc during stationary periods can determine the onset of a high adhesion force (stiction) capable of compromising the reliability of the braking system during vehicle motion. The purpose of this work is to study the effect of the introduction of Cu and Zn in the friction material composition. This effect was investigated through electrochemical measurements (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization, and stiction tests), conducted using an electrochemical cell simulating the parking brake, complemented by the examination of the brake disc and pad surfaces and water absorption tests. The results suggest that porous components, like vermiculite, in the composite friction material led to high contact force. Moreover, 10 wt% of Cu in the friction material does not significantly affect its stiction behavior in our testing configuration. In contrast, 10 wt% Zn in the friction material significantly reduces the stiction propensity by acting with a complex synergistic mechanism combining physical and chemical shielding effects.

Preparation and evaluation of HA–PP coating on AZ31B magnesium alloy for implant applications

To make Mg alloy implants have better corrosion resistance and reduced degradation rate in the human body, hydroxyapatite (HA), polypropylene (PP), and HA+PP coatings were added to the surface of AZ31B through dip coating. Coated samples were tested for weight differences, corrosion rate, surface roughness, and microscopic view. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis confirm coating on the substrate surfaces. The potentiodynamic polarisation test result shows that the corrosion rate in the uncoated substrate (10.138 mm/y) was higher compared to HA-coated = 0.5084 mm/y, PP-coated = 0.442 mm/y, and HA/PP-coated = 0.3275 mm/y. After 14 days, weight loss (5.5%) was highest in the uncoated and lowest in the HA-PP-coated (0.9%). Deposition of the bone mineral was higher on the HA-coated sample, showing superior bone integration properties. Hybrid coating improved electrochemical properties compared to HA coating on Mg alloy.

Influences of flame remelting and WC-Co addition on microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of NiCrBSi coatings manufactured via HVOF process

We investigated the microstructures, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior of NiCrBSi coatings upon the addition of the WC-Co powder in various amounts (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) using the high velocity oxy-fuel process on low-carbon steel. Additionally, flame remelting was performed at 1100 °C for 1 min following thermal spraying of the coatings. The microstructures of the coatings were examined using X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy, and the mechanical properties of the coatings were assessed via Vickers microhardness and ball-on-disk tests. The corrosion behavior of the coatings was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization testing in a 20 vol.% sulfuric acid solution. The results demonstrated that an increase in the WC-Co amount enhanced the hardness and wear resistance of the coatings. For 10–20 wt% WC-Co addition, small cracks were observed in the as-sprayed coatings owing to the heat applied during thermal spraying and rapid cooling, respectively. The presence of porosity directly affects the corrosion behavior of the coatings. Flame remelting led to better cohesion and the distribution of the γ-Ni and WC phases, reducing microdefects, such as pores and cracks. The mechanical properties of the coatings improved as the WC-Co amount increased after flame remelting, resulting in the formation of intermetallic compounds (FeB, CoSi2, and Ni2Si) along with the WC phase. The flame-remelted NiCrBSi/ 10 wt% WC-Co coating demonstrated high hardness and low wear and corrosion rates (1072.26 HV, 4.8 × 10−6 mm3/m, and 0.560 mm/year, respectively). Therefore, WC-Co addition and the flame remelting process significantly enhanced the properties of NiCrBSi coatings. This study highlights the substantial contributions of WC-Co addition and the flame remelting process in enhancing the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of NiCrBSi coatings. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing the performance of commercially available coatings in various real-world applications in maintaining power plants and industrial components like high-pressure pump piston rods, acid-resistant pumps in oil refineries.

The effects of heat treatment and surface state on the corrosion resistance of laser powder bed fusion 304L stainless steel in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution

The corrosion resistance of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) 304L stainless steel (SS) in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution was evaluated at room temperature through potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests. For electropolished samples, annealing at 1200 °C slightly enhanced the corrosion resistance due to changes in crystal orientation and inclusion composition, and reduced residual strain. In contrast, annealing at 1050 °C significantly reduced the corrosion resistance mainly due to the disappearance of dislocation cells and the remained residual dislocations. Residual stress/strain and martensitic transformation induced by sandpaper grinding can also deteriorate the corrosion resistance. Only the as-received sample shows stable passivation regardless of the surface conditions.

Surface Modification of Zn-Cu Alloy with Heparin Nanoparticles for Urinary Implant Applications.

In this work, an investigation on the Zn-Cu alloy coated with heparin was conducted in order to explore the potentiality of its application as a feasible alternative for biodegradable implants, with the specific goal of addressing the issue of encrustation in the urinary system. The stability of the nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering. Typical surface characterization such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy were used to demonstrate a successful immobilization of the NPs. The in vitro corrosion behavior was studied by potentiodynamic polarization and immersion tests in artificial urine (AU) at 37 °C. The 8 weeks in vivo degradation, encrustation resistance, hemocompatibility, and histocompatibility were investigated by means of implantation into the bladders of rats. Both in vitro and in vivo degradation tests exhibited a higher degradation rate for Zn-Cu and NPs groups when compared to pure Zn. Histological evaluations and hemocompatibility revealed that there was no tissue damage or pathological alterations caused by the degradation process. Furthermore, antiencrustation performance and urinalysis results confirmed that the modified alloy demonstrated significant encrustation inhibitory properties and bactericidal activity compared to the pure Zn control. Our findings highlight the potential of this modified alloy as an antiencrustation biodegradable ureteral stent.

The characterization of Ag-doped tin indium oxide/copper electrodes prepared by cold pressing method and their electrocatalytic efficiency in hydrogen production

In the present study, tin indium oxide (SnIn2O3) powder was synthesized by hydrothermal technique. In order to improve the structural property of SnIn2O3, a small amount of silver (Ag) nanoparticles was added into SnIn2O3 powder. Finally, the prepared Ag-doped SnIn2O3 (Ag@SnIn2O3) were embedded into copper (Cu) powder with different ratios. The electrocatalytically improved hetero-structured Ag@SnIn2O3/Cu materials were obtained by cold pressing method. The structural and morphological properties of different Ag@SnIn2O3/Cu materials were studied via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). XRD pattern depicted In2O3 have both cubic and hexagonal crystal structures. FE-SEM images show that Ag@SnIn2O3 nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed into Cu powder. The size of nanoparticles of Ag@SnIn2O3/Cu materials increases with increasing the ratio of Ag@SnIn2O3. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic (PD) polarization tests were carried out to investigate the electrocatalytic activities of the materials toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Energy consumption and energy efficiency values for the HER on the materials were also calculated. Furthermore, the polarization resistances of the 1-Ag@SnIn2O3/Cu, 2.5-Ag@SnIn2O3/Cu, 5-Ag@SnIn2O3/Cu, and 10-Ag@SnIn2O3/Cu materials were determined as 127.4, 103.1, 552.4, and 558.7 Ω cm2, respectively after 5 days of electrolysis periods.

Effects of Surfactants on the Corrosion Behavior of Aluminum Alloy in Graphene Nanofluid

In this study, the corrosion behavior of aluminum alloy was investigated in graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) nanofluids prepared with different surfactants. The surfactants include sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Tween 80, and Gum Arabic (GA). The corrosion properties of the alloy in the different GNP nanofluids were evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization tests at room temperature. The surface morphology of the aluminum alloy was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope coupled with an electron dispersive spectroscopy detector. The experimental results revealed that the addition of surfactants improves the resistance of the aluminum alloy to corrosion in the nanofluid. This was attributed to the adsorption of surfactants on the surface of the alloy to form a protective film layer, which reduces moisture permeability and enhances corrosion inhibition. The addition of GA was found to exhibit the highest inhibition efficiency. This was followed by Tween 80, SDS, and SDBS, which contributes the least inhibition. XRD post-corrosion analysis also reveals the presence of aluminum oxide and aluminum hydroxide phases on the surface of electrodes immersed in all the different GNP nanofluids.

Effect of Graphene Oxide as an Anodizing Additive for the ZK60A Magnesium Alloy: Correlating Corrosion Resistance, Surface Chemistry and Film Morphology

The aim of the present work was to study the effect of graphene oxide as an additive in the anodization bath of the ZK60A magnesium alloy on the corrosion resistance, film morphology and surface chemical composition. The anodizing process was conducted at a constant current density of 30 mA.cm−2 in an electrolyte consisting of 3 M de KOH, 0.15 M de Na2SiO3 and 0.1 M Na2B4O7.10H2O. Graphene oxide was added to this bath at three different concentrations: 0.5 g.L−1, 1.0 g.L−1 and 3.0 g.L−1. The ability of the graphene oxide nanofiller to enhance the corrosion resistance of the ZK60A alloy was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization tests in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The surface chemical composition was assessed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with EDS analysis was employed to examine the anodized layer morphology and thickness. The results pointed to a beneficial effect of graphene oxide addition on the corrosion resistance of the anodized ZK60A which was dependent on the concentration of the nanofiller in the anodizing electrolyte.

The effect of solution aggressiveness on the corrosion-induced degradation mechanism of Al-Cu-Li 2198 alloy

Investigation on the corrosion-induced degradation mechanisms of Al-Cu-Li 2198 alloy is critical for the aircraft maintenance protocol. This article aims to identify the corrosion-induced degradation mechanisms of AA2198-T8; three (3) different accelerated corrosion tests with electrolytes of various aggressiveness, namely sodium chloride (NaCl), Harisson’s and exfoliation corrosion (EXCO) solution were exploited. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization and immersion tests were used in this context. The EIS analyses revealed that exploitation of different electrolytes essentially affects corrosion-degradation mechanism. Intergranular corrosion attack was found to dominate in EXCO solution, while transgranular attack was evident in both, 3.5 wt. % NaCl and Harrison’s solutions. Severe localized corrosion in Harrison’s solution led to higher degradation of elongation at fracture (Af) throughout immersion duration; EXCO exposure led to higher corrosion attack rate for the short exposure times (≤ 6 hours). Correlation between the different electrolytes regarding tensile ductility decrease was attempted through a linear coefficient for the initial, small exposure times; 1-hour EXCO exposure of AA2198-T8 was found to be equivalent to 107 hours exposure to 3.5 wt. % NaCl solution, while the respective correlation with Harrison’s solution showed that 1-hour EXCO exposure is equivalent to 27 hours Harrison exposure.

Impact of scandium and terbium on the mechanical properties, corrosion behavior, and biocompatibility of biodegradable Mg-Zn-Zr-Mn alloys

Magnesium (Mg)-based bone implants degrade rapidly in the physiological environment of the human body which affects their structural integrity and biocompatibility before adequate bone repair. Rare earth elements (REEs) have demonstrated their effectiveness in tailoring the corrosion and mechanical behavior of Mg alloys. This study methodically investigated the impacts of scandium (Sc) and terbium (Tb) in tailoring the corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility of Mg–0.5Zn–0.35Zr–0.15Mn (MZZM) alloys fabricated via casting and hot extrusion. Results indicate that addition of Sc and Tb improved the strength of MZZM alloys via grain size reduction and solid solution strengthening mechanisms. The extruded MZZM–(1–2)Sc–(1–2)Tb (wt.%) alloys exhibit compressive strengths within the range of 336–405 MPa, surpassing the minimum required strength of 200 MPa for bone implants by a significant margin. Potentiodynamic polarization tests revealed low corrosion rates of as–cast MZZM (0.25 mm/y), MZZM–2Tb (0.45 mm/y), MZZM–1Sc–1Tb (0.18 mm/y), and MZZM–1Sc–2Tb (0.64 mm/y), and extruded MZZM (0.17 mm/y), MZZM–1Sc (0.15 mm/y), MZZM-2Sc (0.45 mm/y), MZZM-1Tb (0.17 mm/y), MZZM-2Tb (0.10 mm/y), MZZM–1Sc-1Tb (0.14 mm/y), MZZM-1Sc-2Tb (0.40 mm/y), and MZZM–2Sc–2Tb (0.51 mm/y) alloys, which were found lower compared to corrosion rate of high-purity Mg (∼1.0 mm/y) reported in the literature. Furthermore, addition of Sc, or Tb, or Sc and Tb to MZZM alloys did not adversely affect the viability of SaOS2 cells, but enhanced their initial cell attachment, proliferation, and spreading shown via polygonal shapes and filipodia. This study emphasizes the benefits of incorporating Sc and Tb elements in MZZM alloys, as they effectively enhance corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility simultaneously.

Effect of silicon content on the corrosion behaviors of CrAlSiN thin films deposited by magnetron co-sputtering

One CrAlN and four CrAlSiN thin films containing 0.8–7.3 at. % Si were grown by a magnetron co-sputtering process using pure Cr, Al, and Si targets. The microstructure of the CrAlSiN coating changed from a coarse columnar structure to a dense and compact morphology as Si content increased from 0.8 to 7.3 at. % due to the formation of more amounts of amorphous silicon nitride phase to block the growth of columnar grains. Pitting corrosion was the main corrosion failure mechanism for each coating. According to the potentiodynamic polarization test, the lowest corrosion current density, the highest pitting potential, and the widest passivation range were obtained on the 7.3 at. % Si contained CrAlSiN coating. After the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study of CrAlN and CrAlSiN thin films in 3.5 wt. % NaCl aqueous solution for 100 h immersion, the corrosion resistance of CrAlSiN thin films was 14 times higher than the CrAlN film due to its fine nanocolumnar microstructure to effectively retard the attack of corrosive electrolyte through the defects of coating.

Inhibitory effects of 1-butylpyridin-1-ium bromide in 0.1 M sulphamic acid for mild steel

ABSTRACT In recent years, there has been a consistent development in the introduction of novel corrosion inhibitors due to their potential to reduce the dissolution of metal surfaces under various corrosive environments. The current study investigates the inhibitory effect of the surfactant 1-butylpyridin-1-ium bromide (BPB) on mild steel (MS) in 0.1 M sulphamic acid. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarisation (PDP) studies were used to analyse the inhibition investigations. In addition, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contact angle (CA) measurements were also used to analyse the inhibition investigations. The PDP studies showed a maximum inhibition efficiency of 63.3% at 400 ppm concentration, demonstrating the inhibitor’s efficacy. The investigated compound was found to comply with the Temkin adsorption isotherm with an R 2 value of 0.99954. The results of PDP tests firmly suggest that the inhibitor is of mixed type. ΔG ads values of −9.659 kJ mol−1 suggested that the inhibitor adhered to the metal surface by physical adsorption. Based on the findings it appears that the molecules adhere to the surface of MS forming partial hydrophobic films that act as a barrier for the metal surface.

Inherent Antibacterial Properties of Biodegradable FeMnC(Cu) Alloys for Implant Application.

Implant-related infections or inflammation are one of the main reasons for implant failure. Therefore, different concepts for prevention are needed, which strongly promote the development and validation of improved material designs. Besides modifying the implant surface by, for example, antibacterial coatings (also implying drugs) for deterring or eliminating harmful bacteria, it is a highly promising strategy to prevent such implant infections by antibacterial substrate materials. In this work, the inherent antibacterial behavior of the as-cast biodegradable Fe69Mn30C1 (FeMnC) alloy against Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli as well as Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus is presented for the first time in comparison to the clinically applied, corrosion-resistant AISI 316L stainless steel. In the second step, 3.5 wt % Cu was added to the FeMnC reference alloy, and the microbial corrosion as well as the proliferation of the investigated bacterial strains is further strongly influenced. This leads for instance to enhanced antibacterial activity of the Cu-modified FeMnC-based alloy against the very aggressive, wild-type bacteria P. aeruginosa. For clarification of the bacterial test results, additional analyses were applied regarding the microstructure and elemental distribution as well as the initial corrosion behavior of the alloys. This was electrochemically investigated by a potentiodynamic polarization test. The initial degraded surface after immersion were analyzed by glow discharge optical emission spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, revealing an increase of degradation due to Cu alloying. Due to their antibacterial behavior, both investigated FeMnC-based alloys in this study are attractive as a temporary implant material.

Exploring the effectiveness of two triazole derivatives as copper corrosion inhibitors in NaCl solution: A combined approach of quantitative chemistry and dynamic molecular simulations

The present study investigates the effectiveness of a novel inhibitor, 2‑hydroxy-5-((4-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl) benzaldehyde (STR), in preventing copper from corrosion in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. A comparative study of the inhibition efficiency between our newly synthesized water-soluble triazole STR, and the commercially available Benzotriazole (BTA) was evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) tests. The results revealed a substantial reduction in the rate of copper oxidation with increasing inhibitor concentrations. At 10−3 M, STR and BTA demonstrated inhibition efficiencies of 92.73% and 97.62% respectively. Analysis of the Tafel curves showed that the inhibitors used exhibited mixed type behavior. Langmuir isotherms showed that the STR and BTA molecules are adsorbed on copper surface, following the chemical adsorption process. Theoretical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) method and molecular dynamic (MDS) simulations, provided valuable insights into the efficacy and mode of action of STR and BTA as copper corrosion inhibitors in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution.

Preparation and characterization of hollow ceria based smart anti-corrosive coatings on copper

Hollow CeO2 nanoparticles were prepared and employed as nano-carriers to encapsule benzotriazole inhibitor. The benzotriazole loaded formulations were co-electrodeposited with silanol groups to fabricate a superhydrophobic self-healing silane nanocomposite on copper. The CeO2 nano-containers had a high loading amount of 21.7%. The release of BTA inhibitor in CeO2@BTA composite was pH responsive. Potentiodynamic polarization tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were conducted to evaluate the corrosion protection and self-repairing ability of the deposited CeO2@BTA-silane nanocomposite in 1 M NaCl solution. Potentiodynamic polarization curves suggested that the CeO2@BTA-silane coated sample exhibited a noble corrosion potential and decreased corrosion current density in comparison with the uncoated specimen. The inhibition efficiency was found to be 99.7%. After 20 d immersion, the impedance modulus at 0.01 Hz decreased slightly to 557.2 kΩ.cm2 from 582.3 kΩ.cm2, revealing an outstanding chemical stability. Most of the artificial defects were sealed and repaired by the formed CeO2 passive coating and Cu-BTA complex. This paradigm offers an efficient strategy for constructing excellent anti-corrosion and self-healing coatings.

Surface corrosion protection designing of particulate electromagnetic material towards self-healable functional composite

The electromagnetic wave active carbonyl iron (CI) particles were susceptible to environmental damage leading to functionality loss. Polymeric network as surface coating layer of CI appeared to be useful for improving their anti-corrosion ability. It is also expected that the coating could bridge the particles and the polymer matrix when CI was applied in polymer composites so that the integrity can be promoted. In the present work, disulfide bond [-S-S-] and 2-ureido-4-pyrimidinone (UPy) containing monomers were adopted for formation of crosslinked protection layer (named EAU layer) of CI. The EAU layer significantly enhanced the electrochemical corrosion resistance of CI based on the results of impedance modulus (0.01 Hz), potentiodynamic polarization test, and long term (200 cycles) cyclic voltammetry test. The CI-EAU could also retain good microwave absorbing ability. It is also found that when CI-EAU was embedded in synthesized polyurethane with dynamic [-S-S-] bond and UPy moieties. The composite could achieve fast self-healing under laser irradiation in the presence of Mxene. Besides, the composite was recyclable and could move the cargo under magnetic field. This well-designed strategy holds great promise not only for effective corrosion protection of electromagnetic functional particles, but also for realization of stable and self-healable electromagnetic composites.

Effects of nitrogen flow ratio on the mechanical and anticorrosive properties of cosputtered (TiZrHfTa)Nx films

In this study, TiZrHfTa films were cosputtered through cyclical gradient composition deposition by using four single-element targets connected to direct-current power supplies. Multilayered and columnar structures formed at low and high rotation speeds of the substrate holder (RH), respectively. (TiZrHfTa)Nx thin films were then prepared through reactive cosputtering by using Ar/N2 mixed gas. A high RH value resulted in these films having homogeneous structures. Without the addition of reactive nitrogen gas, the fabricated metallic Ti0.24Zr0.23Hf0.27Ta0.26 film exhibited a valence electron concentration of 4.26, which resulted in the formation of a body-centered cubic (bcc) phase; a hardness of 4.7 GPa; and an elastic modulus of 104 GPa. (TiZrHfTa)Nx films with stoichiometric ratios (x) ranging from 0.59 to 0.97 were obtained by adjusting the reactive gas ratio fN2 (N2/(N2 + Ar)) from 0.1 to 0.7. The introduction of N into the TiZrHfTa crystallites caused the bcc phase to transform into a face-centered cubic phase and enhanced the mechanical properties of the films, with their hardness and elastic modulus increasing to 13.8–25.5 and 235–290 GPa, respectively. Nanoindentation, scratch, Rockwell-C adhesion, and potentiodynamic polarization tests indicated that among the prepared (TiZrHfTa)Nx films, the (Ti0.17Zr0.25Hf0.20Ta0.38)N0.75 film exhibited the best mechanical and anticorrosive properties. Target poisoning accompanied by defect formation affected the mechanical properties of the (TiZrHfTa)Nx films. The anticorrosive properties of the (TiZrHfTa)Nx films were dominated by the high-entropy effect through alloying with Ta and the adhesion strength between the films and substrates.

New inorganic inhibitors derived from cefotaxime to enhance corrosion resistance of mild steel in 3% NaCl

To overcome the threat of corrosion and its cost, a new Schiff base was prepared and utilized to synthesize inorganic inhibitors to enhance corrosion resistance and reduce current density. The Schiff base was obtained from the interaction of cefotaxime with acetylacetone, while 1H NMR and IR spectra were used to confirm the preparation. Moreover, FeIII, CoII, NiII and CuII metal salts were reacted with the Schiff base to give the corresponding complexes. Meanwhile, the non-ionic behavior of the observed complexes in solutions was proved from the conductance results. In addition, the octahedral geometry and the postulated structure of complexes were determined from CHNM%, IR spectroscopy, UV-visible spectra, and TGA analysis. Also, the energy of molecular orbitals (HOMO and LUMO) and other quantum mechanics parameters were calculated using the DFT method. The observed results indicated the reactivity of metal complexes and their ability to donate electrons more than the Schiff base. Furthermore, the corrosion rate of a steel sample under various concentrations of inhibitors was calculated by a potentiodynamic polarization test. The obtained data displayed that metal complexes declined the corrosion rate more than the Schiff base; therefore, the binding between the metal ion and the Schiff base improved the inhibition efficiency.

Electrochemical performance of metal nitride coated titanium bipolar plate for proton exchange membrane water electrolyser

In order to improve corrosion resistance and electric conductivity of titanium bipolar plate (BPP) for proton exchange membrane water electrolyser (PEMWE), three different metal nitride (i.e.Ta/TaN, Cr/CrN and Nb/NbN) coated titanium bipolar plates are prepared by magnetron sputtering. The coated BPP is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM), and their electrochemical performance is assessed by electrochemical corrosion tests including open circuit voltage (OCP), potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization tests in the simulated PEMWE anode environment. It is revealed that the surface roughness of titanium substrates is decreased after coating, implicating the reduced interfacial contact resistance (ICR). Potentiodynamic and potentiostatic tests demonstrate that Ta/TaN and Nb/NbN coatings can significantly improve the corrosion resistance of titanium bipolar plate. The corrosion current density of coated substrate is reduced by approximately 67 % upon coating with Ta/TaN and Nb/NbN under the simulated PEMWE anode environment. However, the ICR of Ta/TaN coating is the lowest (3.9 mΩ × cm2), which is reduced by 74 % compared with pristine titanium substrate (14.9 mΩ × cm2). Hence, the Ta/TaN coated BPP is tested in single electrolytic cell and demonstrates significantly improved electrolysis efficiency.

Cr-Co Oxide Coatings Resistant to Corrosion, Electrodeposited on 304 SS Using an Ethylene Glycol-Water Solvent

The electrochemical co-deposition of Cr-Co oxide coatings at room temperature on 304 stainless steel (SS) was studied using an electrolyte composed of a mixture of ethylene glycol (EG), hydrated metal chloride salts (MCln∙YH2O), and water as a secondary hydrogen donor (HBD). Metallic Cu and Ni undercoats were applied to improve the adhesion of a posterior Cr-Co metallic and oxide layer. The electroactive events that took place during both electrodeposition processes were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry. The microstructure and composition of the surface layers were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and cross-sectional elemental mapping via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The surface of steel with the Cr-Co:EG-H2O coating showed greater resistance to pitting corrosion (123.93 mV) compared to untreated stainless steel (62.3 mV). This sample showed a large hystere-sis area, which is associated with high resistance to pitting corrosion by the occurrence of a re-passivation of the sample at a Erep value of 24.31 mV. After the cyclic potentiodynamic polariza-tion (CPP) test, the lowest specific mass loss (0.001 mg/cm2) was achieved for the AISI 304 SS sample coated using EG-water solvents (Cr-Co:EG-H2O), while the untreated AISI 304 SS reached a higher specific mass loss (0.01 mg/cm2). The Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) tests showed that the uniform corrosion resistance varied significantly from the untreated AISI 304 SS (35 kΩ) to the coated sample (57 kΩ), which is attributed to the protection provided by the chromium and cobalt oxides coating. The best corrosion resistance achieved was correlated with a superhydrophobic character (with a contact angle of 158.41°) of the Cr-Co coatings. This was in turn a consequence of a needle-like morphology characteristic of these oxides.