In this study, 316L stainless steel samples were plasma nitrided for 64 h at 370-420 °C then subjected to surface hardness and pitting corrosion testing. The results show that interstitial hardening with nitrogen significantly improved the surface hardness as well as the pitting corrosion resistance of the austenitic stainless steel.

A new fusion cladding process that uses high-intensity arc lamps can produce pinhole free, smooth, uniform coatings as thick as 15 mm from various feedstock materials. This article briefly describes the process and the corrosion, wear, and high-temperature behavior of fusion claddings designed for oil and gas pipelines and related components.

This article presents the results of a study in which stress corrosion crack growth was examined in situ in aluminum alloy samples. Precracked test specimens were mounted in a customized load frame and a scanning vibrating probe was used to map potential gradients induced by electrochemical coupling current around the crack tip, mouth, and surrounding surfaces. The authors describe the test setup and present and analyze their findings.

A look at Monel after decades of exposure to the environment shows more work is needed to address the lack of scientific research and information in the conservation literature. Three case studies are presented related to the analysis of Monel artifacts.

This article briefly describes a new carbon nanocoating that provides corrosion protection through a two-coat system that is applied like paint, acts like plating, and relies on a much lower zinc content than existing three-coat solutions. Lost conductivity resulting from reduced zinc content is offset by highly conductive carbon nanotubes in the base layer.

The U.S. Naval Academy is expanding awareness about corrosion-related material degradation, its effects on force readiness, and efforts to manage it. One of the goals of the Naval Academy’s corrosion education efforts and corrosion-related STEM activities is to teach students to understand materials degradation processes and prevention methods for aging defense systems.

Corrosion is commonly defined as the deterioration of a material or its properties because of a reaction with its environment. It is a natural process due to a high energy state induced in metals and alloys during refining, processing, and manufacturing. Modern methods for preventing and controlling corrosion can reduce or eliminate its impact on public safety, the economy, and the environment. New technologies push materials to withstand increasingly demanding conditions as a result of higher temperatures and pressures, and environments with greater corrosivity. Therefore, the risks of new types of corrosion failures need to be considered along with methods to avoid them, as described in this article.

As industrial infrastructure continues to age, the risk of corrosion-related incidents becomes greater, increasing the need for detailed analysis of residual elements in steel framework and equipment. X-ray fluorescence is seeing greater use due to new smaller, lightweight equipment designs.

Stress corrosion cracking is an insidious form of damage that can occur when a susceptible metal is subjected to a tensile stress in a specific environment. To relieve tensile stresses at welded joints, postweld heat treatment can be helpful in reducing the susceptibility of carbon steel fabrications to SCC. When planning to use stainless steels in chloride-containing environments, it is advisable to select alloys that have been specifically developed to resist stress chloride cracking such as ferritic-austenitic (duplex) alloys, low-carbon ferritic alloys, and 6% Mo austenitic alloys or to select high-nickel alloys.

An advanced, patented probe sensor provides early detection of water infrastructure problems caused by corrosion and harsh atmospheric conditions. Designed to detect graphitization in active pipelines, it identifies areas at risk of major failures early on. By using indirect methods like GIS mapping, in-situ soil resistivity testing, and structure-to-soil potential measurements, high-risk zones can be pinpointed. Once these areas are identified, the probe assesses the severity and depth of graphitization, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the pipeline’s condition. This allows for the implementation of effective corrosion management strategies, including cathodic protection systems, to prevent critical failures. This article describes the sensor system and provides a case study of its use. The technology received the 2024 Engineering Materials Achievement Award from ASM International.

Simulation of components and joints made of hybrid materials enables innovative designs for corrosion protection in automotive applications. This article gives examples of simulations used to gain insight into the corrosion behavior of riveted joints.

The corrosion of structural materials and control of coolant chemistry are key factors that impact the lifetime of nuclear reactors and the development of future reactors. This article reviews corrosion issues in four reactor concepts that use vastly different coolant types: light water reactors, lead fast reactors, high temperature gas-cooled reactors, and fluoride salt-cooled high temperature reactors.

Outdoor enclosures for telecom equipment are often made from aluminum, but with the protective treatments described in this two-part article series, inexpensive steels can serve in the same capacity. Zinc-based galvanizing and aluminizing treatments, which were presented in Part 1, may be used alone or together with corrosion-resistant paints, pretreatments, and sealants described here. This article also assesses the corrosion resistance and adhesion properties of different combinations of steels, coatings, and pretreatments by means of salt fog spray testing.

Efforts are underway in every sector of the scientic community to explore and develop possible strategies and solutions to counter sea level rise and climate change. Near-term materials science implications include improvements to corrosion-resistant materials and coatings.

Outdoor enclosures for telecom equipment are often constructed from powder-coated aluminum, but with appropriate surface treatments, hot and cold rolled steel can serve in the same capacity at a lower cost. This article, the first of a two-part series, discusses the intrinsic corrosion behavior of hot and cold rolled steel and how it can be modified through galvanizing and aluminizing treatments. Part 2, scheduled for the October 2012 issue of AM&P , covers nonmetallic surface treatments and presents corrosion test results.

Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) use a combination of scanning and transmission electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, and focused ion beam milling to analyze corrosion and crack structures in light-water reactor components with near-atomic spatial resolution.

New FDA guidance for Nitinol used in medical devices includes clarification on the determination of safety factors, the requirements for corrosion testing, and proper labeling of potentially harmful elements.

Optimizing the integrity and performance of highly engineered surfaces and structures requires the ability to visualize and understand material behavior over multiple length and time scales from a three-dimensional perspective. The Electron Microscopy Centre at the University of Manchester is equipped for such work as demonstrated in problem-solving scenarios involving multiscale imaging and analysis of the progression of intergranular corrosion in Al alloy 2024, the catalytic effect of silver nanoparticles in seawater, recrystallization in a volume element of a bronze alloy, and defect progression on graphene surfaces.

The continually increasing demand for new energy will likely be met through a combination of traditional and emerging energy platforms. While technology needs for traditional oil and gas production differ greatly from the needs of emerging power generation platforms, such as solar, wind, fuel cells, and batteries, a common need among all these sources or energy is advanced materials. Tantalum surface alloys enable advancements in traditional and new energy production methods.

Beyond weight savings, aluminum products offer corrosion resistance, weldability, and ease of maintenance for a wide range of marine vessels. Aluminum was recognized as a promising material for marine construction from the early days of the industry. The development of 5xxx alloys and large production capacity made aluminum use more technically and economically possible beginning in the 1950s. The variety of aluminum vessels ranges from small fishing boats and fast ferry catamarans to cruise ships and military vessels. All benefit from aluminum's relatively light weight, low maintenance costs, and easy repairability. Other benefits of using aluminum in marine applications include formability, corrosion resistance, and availability in various product forms.