ABSTRACT
To protect steel structures, zinc coatings are mostly used as a sacrificial barrier. This research aims to estimate the dissolution tendency of the electroplated and zinc-rich cold galvanized (ZRCG) coatings of a controlled thickness (35 ± 1 µm) applied via brush and dip coating methods on the mild steel. To assess the corrosion behavior of these coated samples in 3.5% NaCl and 10% NaCl containing soil solutions, open circuit potential (OCP), cyclic polarization (CP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests were performed. The more negative OCP and appreciably large corrosion rate of the electroplated and ZRCG coated samples in 3.5% NaCl solution highlighted the preferential dissolution of Zn coatings. However, in saline soil solution, the relatively positive OCP (>-850 mV vs. Cu/CuSO4) and lower corrosion rate of the electroplated and ZRCG coatings compared to the uncoated steel sample indicated their incapacity to protect the steel substrate. The CP scans of the zinc electroplated samples showed a positive hysteresis loop after 24 h of exposure in 3.5% NaCl and saline soil solutions attributing to the localized dissolution of the coating. Similarly, the appreciable decrease in the charge transfer resistance of the electroplated samples after 24 h of exposure corresponded to their accelerated dissolution. Compared to the localized dissolution of the electroplated and brush-coated samples, the dip-coated ZRCG samples exhibited uniform dissolution during the extended exposure (500 h) salt spray test.
ABSTRACT
In the present study, the effect of post weld heat treatment (PWHT) on the microstructure and corrosion kinetics of butter welded Nickel Alloy 617 and 12Cr steel was investigated. Buttering was carried out on the 12Cr side with the Thyssen 617 filler metal. Furthermore, post weld heat treatment (PWHT) was conducted at 730 °C with a holding time of 4 h followed by furnace cooling. Optical Microscopy (OM) was conducted to study the microstructural evolution in dissimilar material welding as a result of PWHT. Moreover, Scanning Electron Microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) was employed to determine the elemental concentrations in all important regions of the butter weld before and after the PWHT. In addition, the effect of PWHT on the corrosion kinetics of the butter weld was also investigated by potentiodynamic polarization measurements in 5 wt.% NaCl + 0.5 wt.% CH3COOH electrolyte at room temperature, 30 °C, 50 °C and 70 °C. The corrosion activation parameters were also determined for both the samples by using Arrhenius plots. The results revealed the higher susceptibility of corrosion of the butter weld after PWHT, which was attributed to the reduced Cr content in the heat affected zone of the 12Cr region due to the sensitization effect of the heat treatment, resulting in higher corrosion rates.
ABSTRACT
Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) or biocrorrosion is a cause of huge economic set back for industries around the globe. The present work deals with the study of corrosion of copper alloy (Cu-Ni 70:30) in the presence of bacterial biofilms produced by Bacillus subtilis strain S1X and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain ZK. MIC was investigated using electrochemical techniques such as potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and through analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The Cu-Ni coupons were exposed to bacteria in minimal salt medium supplemented with NaCl for a period of 15 days. AFM and FTIR analysis revealed formation of a thick biofilm on the surface of the Cu alloy in bacterial inoculated systems. The electrochemical results demonstrated a decreased current density and corrosion rate for the systems with bacterial biofilms. These findings were supported by the results of SEM and weight loss studies. The results showed the inhibition of corrosion for Cu-Ni in biotic conditions (with biofilms) as compared with abiotic conditions (without biofilms).
