Cr3C2-NiCr Coating for the Protection of API Steel Corrosion in Concentrated Sodium Chloride Solution

Abstract

In the present work, a layer of 75%Cr3C2−25%NiCr with thickness of 260 ± 15 µm was coated onto the API-2H pipeline steel surface using high-velocity oxy-fuel deposition. The effect of 75%Cr3C2−25%NiCr coating on the corrosion of the API steel after 1 h, 24 h, and 48 h exposure in 4.0% sodium chloride solutions is reported. The corrosion tests were performed using potentiodynamic cyclic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and chronoamperometric current–time techniques along with scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses. The curves of polarization indicated that the presence of the coating increases the corrosion resistance of the steel through decreasing its corrosion current and corrosion rate. Impedance data showed that all resistances recorded higher values for the coated API steel. Chronoamperometric current–time measurements confirmed that the coated API steel has lower absolute current values and thus lower corrosion rate. All results proved that the presence of 75%Cr3C2−25%NiCr coating enhances the corrosion resistance of the API steel via the formation of a protective layer of Cr and Ni oxides, which could lead to decreasing the corrosion rate.