Corrosion Behavior of Flame Sprayed Cr2O3 Coatings on Carbon Steel in Chloride Solutions

Cr2O3 coatings were deposited on carbon steel through the flame spraying technique using two types of flames (neutral and oxidizing). The protective and morphological characteristics of the coatings were determined. The coatings had layer thickness values of 114 and 214µm for oxidizing and neutral samples, respectively. Porosity percentages of 4.5 % and 2.5 % were determined, where the neutral sample presented the greatest porosity due to the insufficient fusion of the oxide particles during the process, resulting in the formation of a heterogeneous and less compact layer. Microcracks and pores were found on the surface and cross-section of the coatings, due to the thermal expansion generated during the solidification process. The coating protective capacity was evaluated by electrochemical techniques over 672 hours in a 3.5 %wt NaCl saline solution. The results evidenced that the coatings manufactured with the oxidizing flame presented more corrosion resistance compared to those prepared with the neutral flame. The corrosion products were more evident in the neutral flame coatings, because of the diffusion mechanisms from the substrate to the surface coating through the interconnected pores. Finally, the wettability of the sodium chloride solution in the Cr2O3 coatings was measured by the contact angle technique, finding that the oxidizing flame coatings exhibited a higher angle contact value (64.8°) in contrast to the neutral flame coatings (35°).