An aggressive environment such as seawater or friction will eventually destroy even very durable stainless steel products. A group of scientists from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST MISIS) together with colleagues in the Czech Republic proposed a method for protecting steel surfaces.
The researchers believe the coverage they've developed can significantly improve the protection of marine and coastal infrastructure and reduce the risk of accidents and equipment breakdowns. The study was published in the journal "Wear".
Scientists have developed a coating that, due to its excellent adhesion, high hardness and thickness, meets all the necessary requirements and is able to protect the surface layer. This coating consists of sputtered tantalum-zirconium carbides fixed with a metal layer.
The scientists used an electro-spark alloy method similar to welding to apply the coating. This method has been known for a long time, but the experts at NUST MISIS suggested performing the procedure in a vacuum. This provides protection against oxidation and significantly improves the quality of the coating. The researchers noted that the proposed technology is protected by two patents.
In the future, experts plan to give the coating water-repellent properties and prevent contact of metal surfaces with an abrasive environment. It will significantly facilitate the task of choosing the most solid compositions for anti-wear protection and will help to prevent ice coverage of the surface layer in polar latitudes.
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