Diffusion Coatings as Corrosion Inhibitors

Corrosion is the cause of irretrievable loss of huge amounts of metals and alloys. The harmful effects of corrosion can be reduced significantly by applying appropriate methods of corrosion protection. One method to protect metals against corrosion is the formation of diffusion coatings on them. High corrosion resistance is typical for the boride diffusion layers. Aluminothermy is one of the main methods for diffusion saturation of the surface of metal products with various elements, including boron, and under certain conditions with aluminum, too. Samples of steel 45 were put to aluminothermic diffusion saturation with boron in a pressurized steel container at a temperature of 1100K, for 6 hours in powdered aluminothermic mixtures. The content of В₂О₃ in the starting mixtures decreased from the optimum - 20% to 0%, and the content of Al and the activator - (NH₄)₂.4BF₃ is constant, respectively 7% and 0.5%. Al₂O₃ was used as filler. The borided samples were tested for corrosion resistance in 10% HCl for 72 hours. The results show that their corrosion resistance depends on the composition of the starting saturating mixture (mainly on the content of В₂О₃), and respectively on the composition, structure, thickness and degree of adhesion of the layer to the metal base.