Electrolytic silicide coating in fused salts

Abstract

Silicide coating of stainless steels and Nimonic-type alloys in melts of the system Na₃AlF₆-SiO₂-Al₂O₃ was examined both chemically and electrolytically. With the latter, it was found that, at a temperature of 1020 °C and cathodic current densities of 50–200 mA cm^-2, a bright homogeneous silicide layer with an average composition corresponding approximately to M₃Si with good anticorrosive properties (mainly with respect to vanadium corrosion) is formed at the cathode.