The Effect of Low Temperature Heat Treatment on the Corrosion Resistance of the Electrodeposited FeCrNiCuAg0.5 High Entropy Alloy Coating
نویسندگان
1 PhD Candidate, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU), Qazvin, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU), Qazvin, Iran.
3 Associate Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU), Qazvin, Iran.
doi
10.30501/acp.2025.431929.1173چکیده
In this research, a coating composed of the FeCrNiCuAg0.5 compound, a multi-principal element alloy, was applied to the surface of an AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) 316 stainless steel plate using the DC current electroplating technique in an aqueous bath. The coated sample was subjected to heat treatment at 200 °C in ambient atmosphere. The corrosion resistance of the samples was studied through polarization and immersion corrosion tests. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) revealed improved corrosion resistance, and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns showed slight shifts to the right. The results indicated a 24% reduction in corrosion current. Further investigation suggested that this improvement was due to stress relief after the low-temperature heat treatment. Residual stresses caused by electroplating create local anodic and cathodic sites, and relieving these stresses removes this effect. Achieving corrosion resistance in an electrodeposited HEA coating through a simple and inexpensive heat treatment represents a novel approach, which could be explored in greater detail in future research, such as by investigating a wider range of temperatures.
