Influence of Microstructure on the Conductivity and Corrosion Resistance in the (Ti,Nb)N-Based Protective Coating
摘要
In the present study, (Ti,Nb)N-based composite coatings with a thickness of 250 μm are prepared using reactive plasma spraying technology, and the effect of Nb content on structure, conductivity, and corrosion resistance is investigated. The (Ti,Nb)N-based composite coatings with a crystal size of 40-200 nm have multi-layered structures, and each layer is composed of NbTiN2, Ti3O, and Nb. As the Nb content increases, the density of the coating increases, and the Nb-30 wt.% coating exhibits the highest density. The Nb-30 wt.% coating exhibits the lowest interfacial contact resistance (12.58 mΩ cm2) under a compaction force of 1.5 MPa. In a simulated proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) environment, the Nb-30 wt.% coating demonstrated superior corrosion resistance and stability. In the potentiostatic polarization tests at 0.6 and 1.2 V, compared with the other two coatings, the corrosion current density of the Nb-30 wt.% coating stabilizes first. The Nb-30 wt.% coating exhibits a higher corrosion potential and a lower corrosion current density compared to 45# steel. During prolonged corrosion testing, defects in the coating are gradually sealed by corrosion products generated from the reaction between the corrosive solution and the NiCrAlY bonding layer, resulting in a "self-sealing" effect and enhanced corrosion resistance.