Electrochemical corrosion of magnetron sputtered WTiN-coated mild steels in a chloride medium

The electrochemical corrosion behaviour of WTiN coatings, of composition W 31, Ti 28 and N 40 at.% sputtered on carbon steel, chromium steel and high speed steel (HSS) has been investigated and the effect of the steel heat treatment on the steel/WTiN system performance explored. Open circuit potential measurements, polarisation curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used, together with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to characterise the corroded and uncorroded coating/substrate systems. It was found that the influence of the substrate on corrosion resistance follows the order Carbon Steel<HSS<Chromium Steel. The best performance of the chromium steel/WTiN system can be associated with the higher compactness of the protective coating, since there is strong evidence that it is inert so that electrolyte penetration through the coating defects and pores is responsible for the initiation of substrate corrosion. Heat treatment of the substrate has some influence on the corrosion of the HSS/coating system, suggesting that there may be one ideal steel treatment temperature for which the coating adhesion is higher.