Tribocorrosion behaviors of CrN coating in 3.5wt% NaCl solution

Publication date: 31 January 2017
Source:Thin Solid Films, Volume 622
Author(s): Qiang Chen, Yongzhi Cao, Zhiwen Xie, Tian Chen, Yuanyuan Wan, He Wang, Xu Gao, Yan Chen, Yanwen Zhou, Yuanyuan Guo
Chromium nitride coatings are synthesized on the stainless steels by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition. The microstructure and tribocorrosion behaviors of the as-deposited coatings are characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, reciprocating-sliding tribometer and electrochemical testing. The results show that the CrN coatings have a typical columnar growth structure consisting of face-centered cubic crystals. The CrN coatings greatly enhance the corrosion resistance and wear resistance of the stainless steel. However, frictional forces induce numerous micro-cracks which act as the diffusion channels for NaCl solution. Multi-scale Cl ion corrosion occurs simultaneously during the tribocorrosion and a force-corrosion synergy interaction induces the multi-degradation (e.g., intersecting cracks and layer delamination) of the CrN coating. The synergistic damage mechanisms of wear and corrosion are systematically discussed.