Corrosion Susceptibility Assessment of CrNx Thin Films deposited on 310 H Stainless Steel by Thermionic Vacuum Arc Method

The paper's aim is to present results obtained after characterization of the chromium nitride thin layers applied on the surface of 310 H stainless steel (SS) using the thermionic vacuum arc (TVA) method. The surfaces of coated samples have been analysed using techniques as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. In parallel, by using electrochemical methods (such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, EIS, and linear potentiodynamic polarization), the general corrosion susceptibility of coated samples and the protective character of the CrNx layers, respectively, have been assessed. The EIS analysis with Bode and Nyquist plots, equivalent circuits and representative parameters, confirmed that the chromium nitride coated 310 H SS samples are more protective and provide better corrosion resistance. The same conclusion was also highlighted by the potentiodynamic method. (author).