In this study, we demonstrate a novel pathway to engineer the properties of metallic alloys for limiting their cavitation erosion-corrosion. A facile single-step processing technique was used to develop bimodal grain structure in stainless steel. The bimodal steel was tested in cavitation erosion and erosion-corrosion conditions. In both the cases, bimodal steel showed exceptionally high degradation resistance, nearly 7 times higher compared to as-received steel. The remarkable cavitation erosion resistance demonstrated by bimodal steel is attributed to its high yield strength along with high work-hardening rate. In addition, the bimodal steel showed significantly low corrosion rate of 0.001 mm/year in 3.5 wt \% NaCl solution compared to 0.088 mm/year for as-received stainless steel. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

Harpreet Singh Grewal

Mechanical Engineering

(SoE) School of Engineering

Harpreet Singh

Selvam K.

Saini J.

Perumal G.

Ayyagari A.

Salloom R.

Mondal R.

Mukherjee S.

<p>Shiv Nadar University is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, research-focused, and student-centric University offering a full range of academic programs at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, the University comprises of academic wings, sophisticated labs, international standard sports facilities, amphitheaters, auditorium, conference rooms and smart classrooms. The University&rsquo;s goal is to become internationally recognized for the quality of its research and creative endeavors and their applicability to improving quality of life, generating new insights and expanding the boundaries of human knowledge creativity. Committed to excellence in teaching, research and service, the University aims to serve the higher education needs of India and the world beyond.</p>

Shiv Nadar University

Tribology International

Here, an excellent cavitation erosion-corrosion resistance of stainless steel using a novel severe surface deformation technique, reciprocating friction processing (RFP) was demonstrated. The RFP treated stainless steel showed nano-grained, nano-twinned microstructure along with high dislocation density. The RFP treated steel significantly surpassed the performance of advanced structural materials including high entropy alloy (Al0.1CoCrFeNi) and complex concentrated alloy (SiC reinforced Al0.1CoCrFeNi), demonstrating the lowest cavitation erosion and cavitation erosion-corrosion rates for this class of materials. The RFP treated steel demonstrated outstanding corrosion behavior in 3.5\% NaCl solution as well. The unusual performance of RFP treated steel is attributed to its excellent mechanical strength and strong passivating behavior. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.

Wear

Cavitation erosion-corrosion resilient surfaces through reciprocating friction processing

Cavitation erosion is a huge problem in engineering structures working under hydrodynamic conditions. The synergistic effect of erosion and corrosion can aggravate the material removal by several orders of magnitude. Surface coatings are widely used to address material degradation by erosion–corrosion. However, non-homogenous microstructure and presence of defects leads to premature coating failure under erosion–corrosion conditions. Thus, it is imperative to identify plausible solutions to address cavitation-related material degradation. In this study, Ni-Cr-5Al2O3 coatings were deposited on stainless steel substrate using high-velocity-oxy-fuel technique. The as-sprayed coating showed highly non-homogeneous microstructure comprising splats, pores, intermetallic compounds and elemental segregation. A new thermo-mechanical processing technique, stationary friction processing (SFP), was utilized for achieving through-thickness microstructural refinement in as-sprayed coating. As-sprayed and SFP-treated coatings were tested in pure cavitation erosion, corrosion in 3.5\% NaCl solution and erosion–corrosion. SFP treatment resulted in 5-times enhancement in the erosion and corrosion resistance compared to as-sprayed coating. The remarkable performance of Ni-Cr-5Al2O3 coatings after SFP treatment is attributed to significant enhancement in the mechanical properties including hardness and fracture toughness which is the consequence of complete removal of splat boundaries, pores, intermetallic compounds and uniform element distribution up to the coating–substrate interface. © 2020, ASM International.

Journal of Thermal Spray Technology

Enhanced Cavitation Erosion–Corrosion Resistance of High-Velocity Oxy-Fuel-Sprayed Ni-Cr-Al2O3 Coatings Through Stationary Friction Processing

Friction stir processing of an Al0.1CoCrFeNi high entropy alloy (HEA) was performed at controlled cooling conditions (ambient and liquid submerged). Microstructural and mechanical characterization of the processed and as-cast HEAs was evaluated using electron backscat-ter diffraction, micro-hardness testing and nanoindentation. HEA under the submerged cooling condition showed elongated grains (10 µm) with fine equiaxed grains (2 µm) along the boundary compared to the coarser grain (∼2 mm) of as-cast HEA. The hardness showed remarkable improvements with four (submerged cooling condition) and three (ambient cooling condition) times that of as-cast HEA (HV ∼150). The enhanced hardness is attributed to the significant grain refinement in the processed HEAs. Cavitation erosion behavior was observed for samples using an ultrasonication method. All of the HEAs showed better cavitation erosion resistance than the stainless steel 316L. The sample processed under a submerged liquid condition showed approximately 20 and 2 times greater erosion resistance than stainless steel 316L and as-cast HEA, respectively. The enhanced erosion resistances of the processed HEAs correlate to their increased hardness, resistance to plasticity, and better yield strength than the as-cast HEA. The surface of the tested samples showed nucleation and pit growth, and plastic deformation of the material followed by fatigue-controlled disintegration as the primary material removal mechanism. © 2020, University of Science and Technology Beijing and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials

Enhanced cavitation erosion resistance of a friction stir processed high entropy alloy

Surface phenomenon such as cavitation erosion-corrosion limits the working life and durability of the fluid machines through significantly altering the efficiency. Surface modification is an apparent and economical route for improving the sustainability of these components. Recently developed complex concentrated alloys (CCAs) or high entropy alloys (HEAs) possess exceptional properties owing to high configurational entropy. We developed CCA coatings on the stainless steel using a facial and effective microwave processing technique. The effect of Al molar fraction in AlxCoCrFeNi (x = 0.1–3) CCAs on ultrasonic cavitation erosion-corrosion was investigated in 3.5\% NaCl solution. For comparison, cavitation erosion and electrochemical corrosion behavior of the pre- and post-tested samples was also performed. Detailed microstructure and mechanical characterization of the developed coatings were also preformed using different analytical techniques. The equimolar CCA coating showed apical degradation resistance under both pure erosion and erosion-corrosion conditions. The observed behavior is attributed to high strain hardening, optimal hardness, fracture toughness, and utmost stability of the passive layer. The phenomenal conjugation of these properties was associated with highest configurational entropy for equimolar composition resulting in sluggish diffusion, and severe lattice straining. Compared to pits, striations and cracks characterizing the morphology of the degraded stainless steel, the equimolar and Al0.1CoCrFeNi CCAs showed TTS (tearing topograph surface) as the dominant failure mode characterized by presence of microplastic deformation. The degradation of the Al3CoCrFeNi CCA occurred mainly through brittle failure mode. The difference in failure mechanism is related to the mechanical properties and underlying microstructure. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

Fulltext

Ultrasonics Sonochemistry

Microwave synthesized complex concentrated alloy coatings: Plausible solution to cavitation induced erosion-corrosion

Cavitation erosion remains the primary cause of material degradation in fluid machinery components operating at high speed. Micro-jets/shock waves caused by implosion of bubbles on material surface results in significant material loss and premature failure of the components. The presence of corrosive medium further exuberates this effect, causing rapid degradation. Here, we demonstrate a novel pathway to control cavitation erosion-corrosion by tailoring the surface properties using submerged friction stir processing (FSP), a severe plastic deformation process. FSP parameters were varied over wide range of strain-rates to generate tailored microstructures. High strain-rate processing resulted in nearly single phase fine grained structure while low strain-rate processing resulted in phase transformation in addition to grain refinement. As-received and processed samples were subjected to ultrasonic cavitation in distilled water as well as in corrosive environment of 3.5\% NaCl solution. Individual roles of cavitation erosion, corrosion and their synergistic effects were analyzed. Depending on the microstructure, processed samples showed nearly 4–6 times higher cavitation erosion resistance compared to as-received alloy. Superior cavitation erosion-corrosion resistance of processed samples was attributed to surface strengthening, higher strain-hardening ability and quick passivation kinetics. The results of current study could be potentially transformative in designing robust materials for hydro-dynamic applications. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

Ultrasonic cavitation erosion-corrosion behavior of friction stir processed stainless steel

Cavitation erosion and corrosion of structural materials are serious concerns for marine and offshore industries. Durability and performance of marine components are severely impaired due to degradation from erosion and corrosion. Utilization of advanced structural materials can play a vital role in limiting such degradation. High entropy alloys (HEAs) are a relatively new class of advanced structural materials with exceptional properties. In the present work, we report on the cavitation erosion behavior of Al0.1CoCrFeNi HEA in two different media: distilled water with and without 3.5 wt\% NaCl. For comparison, conventionally used stainless steel SS316L was also evaluated in identical test conditions. Despite lower hardness and yield strength, the HEA showed significantly longer incubation period and lower erosion-corrosion rate (nearly 1/4th) compared to SS316L steel. Enhanced erosion resistance of HEA was attributed to its high work-hardening behavior and stable passivation film on the surface. The Al0.1CoCrFeNi HEA showed lower corrosion current density, high pitting resistance and protection potential compared to SS316L steel. Further, HEA showed no evidence of intergranular corrosion likely due to the absence of secondary precipitates. Although, the degradation mechanisms (formation of pits and fatigue cracks) were similar for both the materials, the damage severity was found to be much higher for SS316L steel compared to HEA. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.