Determination of the best behavior among AISI D3 steel, 304 stainless steel and CrN/AlN coatings under erosive-corrosive effect

The erosive-corrosive effect of aqueous NaCl slurries on metals and metals coated with a multilayer system was analyzed. The erosion-corrosion experiments were performed in a test machine in which the impingement velocity, impact angle, concentration of solids and pH of the solution were controlled. Polarization curves were simultaneously obtained to correlate the electrochemical effects to the erosive wear mechanisms. The slurry used consists of silica particles suspended in a mixture of acid solution and 3.5% NaCl. with a pH value of 5.6. Electrochemical results showed the best corrosion resistance for steel coated with CrN/AlN system deposited with 50 bilayer. Additionally, the surface analysis by SEM micrograph revealed formation of cracks in CrN/AlN multilayers coating and plastic deformation in both steel substrates (AISI D3 steel and 304 stainless steel), especially when the mean impact angle is a critical value of 90 degrees. Measurements of critical and passive current densities showed that the behavior of coated materials differed depending on the substrate that is used. Nonetheless, in a general way, by increasing the impact angle and by changing its incidence from normal to grazing, it led to an improved resistance to erosion-corrosion processes. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.