Effect of STL6/TiN Composite Coating on Corrosion Resistance of F347 Stainless Steel

YU Huaming; GU Jinlong; WU Xiaokang; ZHU Gangxian; ZHANG Xing; WANG Chuanyang; LI Jiaqiang

doi:10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.12.007

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Surface Technology ›› 2026, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (12) : 95-108. DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.12.007

Corrosion and Protection

Effect of STL6/TiN Composite Coating on Corrosion Resistance of F347 Stainless Steel

YU Huaming¹, GU Jinlong², WU Xiaokang^2*, ZHU Gangxian¹, ZHANG Xing¹, WANG Chuanyang¹, LI Jiaqiang^1*

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Abstract

The effect of the STL6-TiN composite coating on the corrosion resistance of F347 stainless steel is studied. A STL6/TiN composite coating with good bonding with the substrate is prepared by plasma welding and chemical vapor deposition technology, which improves the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel.
Austenitic stainless steel ASTM A182 F347 with dimensions of 100×50×10 mm³ is selected as the substrate. The surface is meticulously ground using silicon carbide sandpaper and cleaned with ethanol. Under argon gas protection, a layer of Stellite6 is deposited onto the substrate via plasma welding. The deposited layer is then polished to a smooth finish, which serves as the base for preparing a TiN coating through chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The surface and sides are cut through wire cutting, followed by inlaying and polishing. The sample is polished to a scratch-free finish using a vibration polishing machine. The sample is then etched with aqua regia (a corrosive solution prepared at a 1∶3 ratio of HNO₃ to HCl). Microscopic morphology of the substrate, deposited layer, and CVD layer is observed with an optical microscope (OM, Olympus GX71) and a FEI Quanta-250 field emission scanning electron microscope (FEI). The chemical composition of the coating is analyzed with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) integrated with the microscope. The porosity and other defects in the deposited layer are evaluated with a Zeiss Sradia 620 three-dimensional industrial CT scanner. Oxygen content in the deposited layer is measured with an EMGA-830E03-021 oxygen-nitrogen-hydrogen analyzer. Electrochemical corrosion experiments are conducted with a CS350 electrochemical workstation from Wuhan Kost Instrument Company. The experimental solution is a 3.5%NaCl solution, and the tests are performed at room temperature with a three-electrode system, with each experiment repeated at least five times. The samples of F347 matrix, F347-STL6 and F347-STL6-TiN (denoted as T₁, T₂and T₃ respectively) are cut by wire cutting machine with the diameter of 15mm and the thickness of 5mm, and the corrosion resistance of the coating is evaluated.
A well-structured STL6/TiN composite coating is successfully fabricated through plasma welding and chemical vapor deposition. The welding layer exhibits a microstructure composed of equiaxed grains at the base, columnar grains in the middle, and fine equiaxed grains at the top, demonstrating defect-free morphology and excellent metallurgical bonding with the substrate. On-site nuclear hydrogenation (ONH) analysis of the STL6 welding layer reveals an average oxygen content of 0.00325%. Corrosion tests show a significant reduction in corrosion current density from 1.526 μA/cm² to 0.37 μA/cm². The TiN coating effectively prevents corrosion reactions, thereby enhancing the sample's corrosion resistance. The STL6/TiN composite coating exhibits the highest passivation potential, indicating superior stability of the formed passivation film and the maximum |Z| value, which significantly improves its electrochemical corrosion resistance. The STL6 welding layer's ability to form a dense Cr₂O₃ passivation film further enhances its corrosion resistance. The STL6/TiN composite coating not only achieves the highest passivation potential but also demonstrates superior surface passivation film stability. Its corrosion current density is further improved compared with both the F347 substrate and the single STL6 welding layer. High concentrations of chromium and cobalt elements facilitate the formation of dense passivation films, effectively suppressing continuous damage from chloride ions. During the initial corrosion stage, the cobalt-based coating forms a highly bonded chromium-rich passivation film, significantly reducing the coating's corrosion rate. Therefore, stable oxide films exhibit greater resistance to chloride ions in electrolytes than unstable passivation films. The STL6/TiN composite coating significantly improves the corrosion resistance of stainless steel and reduces its corrosion rate. The results provide a technical route and theoretical support for improving the corrosion resistance of F347 stainless steel under harsh environment.

Key words

composite coating / cobalt-based Alloy / TiN coating / microstructure / corrosion resistance

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YU Huaming, GU Jinlong, WU Xiaokang, ZHU Gangxian, ZHANG Xing, WANG Chuanyang, LI Jiaqiang. Effect of STL6/TiN Composite Coating on Corrosion Resistance of F347 Stainless Steel[J]. Surface Technology. 2026, 55(12): 95-108

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