Wenbin Hu

Improving Corrosion Resistance of a Nickel-Aluminum Bronze Alloy via Nickel Ion Implantation

An as-cast nickel-aluminum bronze alloy was subjected to nickel ion implantation, modifying its surface structure. A nickel-rich layer was formed on the surface of the alloy and its corrosion resistance in salt spray environment was improved gradually with the increasing implantation fluence. The corrosion resistance enhancement after ion implantation is believed to stem from the more compact Cu2O film with the incorporation of nickel ions. Under the protection of this more compact film, selective phase corrosion was inhibited effectively.

Microstructure and nanoindentation behavior of Cu composites reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets by electroless co-deposition technique.

A reduced graphene oxide/copper (RGO/Cu) composite was fabricated by a surfactant free, electroless co-deposition technique. The graphene oxide (GO) sheets were reduced and RGO homogeneous distributed into the copper matrix. On the basis of nanoindentation, the presence of RGO and the increase of its content in matrix significantly raised the hardness of RGO/Cu composites. Here, the relevant strengthening effect and mechanisms involved in RGO-reinforced Cu composites were systematically evaluated. Especially, the addition of RGO in Cu matrix led to the compressive micro-strain, and the resulted distortion of the lattice parameter was calculated based on Cohen’s method. However, excessive addition of GO in the electrolyte could decrease the mechanical performance due to agglomeration of RGO. Apparently, the optimal concentration for GO dispersion in co-deposition solution was deserved to discuss. After a serious of relative experiments, we could get a conclusion that this method provided a new pathway for embedded graphene into the metal matrix to improve the mechanical properties of RGO-reinforced materials.

Temperature-driven growth of reduced graphene oxide/copper nanocomposites for glucose sensing.

A one-spot method was developed for the synthesis of graphene sheet decorated with copper nanoparticles using different reduction temperatures via a molecular level mixing process. Here, we demonstrate that the reduction temperature is a crucial determinant of the properties of reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/metal composite and its electrocatalytic application in glucose sensing. To show this, we prepared a series of RGO/Cu composites at different reduction temperatures and examined the change rules of size, loading and dispersion of Cu particles, and the reduction extent of the RGO. Results showed that the Cu particle size increased with increasing reduction temperatures due to the Ostwald ripening process. Meanwhile, the Cu loading decreased with increasing reduction temperatures and the aggregation had not appeared in the high Cu loading situation. Additionally, the increasing reduction temperatures led to the decreasing concentrations of various oxygen-containing functional group of RGO with various degrees. The cyclic voltammogram showed that the RGO/metal composites fabricated under lower reduction temperatures exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity for glucose sensing, which was attributed to the higher surface area from larger loading of RGO/metal composites with smaller particle size. It can be concluded that the above factors play more significant roles in electrocatalytic efficiency than the decreased electron transfer rate between RGO and Cu within a certain range. These results highlight the importance of the reduction temperature influencing the properties of the RGO/metal composite and its application. We believe that these findings can be of great value in the further developing RGO/metal-based sensors for electrochemical detection of different analytes in emerging fields.

Electrochemical noise monitoring of the atmospheric corrosion of steels: identifying corrosion form using wavelet analysis

ABSTRACT The early stage atmospheric corrosion of T91 and Q235B steels exposed to Tianjin’s urban atmosphere over 20 days was studied using two electrochemical probes via an electrochemical noise (EN) technique. To identify the corrosion process and the corrosion form of the two steels, EN data were analysed by statistics and wavelet transform. The results revealed that the wavelet energy of decomposed EN mainly located at high-frequency level for Q235B steel, whereas it mainly located at the low-frequency level for T91 steel. Analyses of surface images confirmed that Q235B steel underwent uniform corrosion whereas T91 steel suffered from localised corrosion. The obtained noise resistance correlated well with weight loss data. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Detection of SCC on 304 stainless steel in neutral thiosulfate solutions using electrochemical noise based on chaos theory

Purpose n n n n nThis paper aims to investigate the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) process of sensitized 304 stainless steel during the slow strain rate test by using the electrochemical noise (EN) technique. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nEN data are interpreted based on chaos and wavelet analyses, and correlation dimension and wavelet energy distribution are used as indicators for SCC process identification. n n n n nFindings n n n n nExperimental results reveal that the corrosion potential abruptly decreases from 180 to 100 mV at 6,300 s and the current increases from 10 to 100 nA accordingly, which is attributed to passive film breakdown and crack initiation. Chaos and wavelet analyses results reveal that, as crack initiates, the correlation dimensions increase from 1.2 to 1.9, and the corresponding distribution frequencies of maximum relative wavelet energy change from high frequency to low frequency. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nSCC is monitored in lab, and crack initiation and propagation are identified by chaos and wavelet analyses. This work lays the foundation for SCC detection in field using EN.

Corrosion behavior of X65 steel in seawater containing sulfate reducing bacteria under aerobic conditions

The corrosion behavior of X65 steel was investigated in the seawater inoculated with sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) under the aerobic environment by electrochemical impedance techniques and immersion tests. The corroded morphologies and the composition of the corrosion products were investigated. The variation of the solution parameters including the bacterium number, the pH value and the soluble iron concentration were also investigated. The results indicated that in the SRB-containing system, the impedance responses presented a depressed semi-circle in the initial period, which then turned into the blocked electrode characteristic during the later immersion. The biofilm, mainly composed of extracellular polymeric substances, Fe(OH)3, γ-FeOOH and α-Fe2O3, formed and degraded with the SRB growth. The soluble iron concentration initially increased, then rapidly decreased and later slowly increased. In the SRB-containing seawater under the aerobic environment, the X65 steel was corroded in the initial immersion. The corrosion became inhibited with the forming of the biofilm during the subsequent immersion. The inhibition efficiency rapidly increased in the logarithmic phase, remained stable in the stationary phase and then decreased in the declination phase. In the corrosion process, the biofilm metabolized by SRB played a key role in the corrosion inhibition of X65 steel.

Self-Assembly of Graphene-Encapsulated Cu Composites for Nonenzymatic Glucose Sensing

Cu has recently received great interest as a potential candidate for glucose sensing to overcome the problems with noble metals. In this work, reduced graphene oxide-encapsulated Cu nanoparticles (Cu@RGO) have been prepared via an electrostatic self-assembly method. This core/shell composites were found to be more stable than conventional Cu-decorated graphene composites and bare copper nanoparticles in an air atmosphere because the graphene shell can effectively protect the Cu nanoparticles from oxidation. In addition, the obtained Cu@RGO composites also showed an outstanding electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation with a wide linear detection range of 1 μM to 2 mM, low detection limit of 0.34 μM (S/N = 3), and a sensitivity of 150 μA mM–1 cm–2. Moreover, Cu@RGO composites exhibited a satisfactory reproducibility, selectivity, and long effective performance. These excellent properties indicated that Cu@RGO nanoparticles have great potential application in glucose detection.

In-situ Study the Corrosion Degradation Mechanism of Tinplate in Salty Water by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

In this work, the corrosion degradation of tinplate in contact with salty water is investigated by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Experimental results indicate tin maintains at passive state during the exposure; however, pores and defects existed in tin coating leads to an exposure of carbon steel substrate to the electrolyte, in which localized corrosion tends to occur within the pore. A phenomenological model is proposed to interpret corrosion mechanism of tinplate in contact with salty food based on the proposed electrochemical equivalent circuit.

The Effects of Sodium Tungstate on the Characteristics of Microarc Oxidation Coating on Ti6Al4V

Microarc oxidized coatings on Ti6Al4V alloy are produced in a basic Na2SiO3-(NaPO3)6-NaAlO2 electrolyte with different concentrations of sodium tungstate. The effects of sodium tungstate on the characteristics of the coating are investigated through current–time response, microstructure, composition, hardness, bonding strength and antifriction measurements. The coating is mainly composed of Al2TiO5, TiO2, Al2O3 and amorphous substances regardless of the concentration of sodium tungstate. The sodium tungstate is transformed into trace amounts of WO3, which significantly promotes the growth of the coatings. The bonding strength and antifriction performance of the coatings are enhanced with the concentration of sodium tungstate less than 4xa0g/L, whereas excessive sodium tungstate results in a coarse outer layer with more microdefects, which deteriorates the wear resistance of the coating. Based on the results of scratch and wear test with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy of the worn surface and debris, the optimal concentration of sodium tungstate doped into the electrolyte is identified, and this concentration yields superior tribological property. Excellent wear resistance is achieved by combining a high bonding strength and hardness with a less defective outer layer.

Synthetic Effects of Frequency and Duty Ratio on Growth Characteristics, Energy Consumption and Corrosion Properties of Microarc Oxidized Coating Formed on Ti6Al4V

The synthetic effects of frequency and duty ratio on growth characteristics and corrosion properties of coating on Ti6Al4V fabricated by microarc oxidation are investigated comprehensively. Under the condition of uniform cumulating time of positive impulse width, the essence of altering frequency and duty ratio to determine the formation of coating is to vary the duration and interval time of positive pulse. The growth of coating is mainly controlled by duration time of positive pulse and hardly correlated to the interval time of positive pulse, while both duration and interval time of positive pulse have few influences on the morphology and phase structures of coating. The dynamic current is related to positive impulse width and the ratio of positive pulse on-time to pulse off-time. Regardless of uniform duration or interval time of positive pulse, the energy dissipation presents a descending tendency. The relationship between energy consumption and anticorrosion performance is contradictory, and obtaining excellent corrosion resistance is bound to sacrifice lots of energy. The duty ratio and frequency can be designed purposefully to realize the optimal process.