Influence of atmospheric pressure plasma treatments on the corrosion resistance of stainless steels

Abstract

In this study, the influence of treatments carried out with an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) on
the passive oxide films of different types of stainless steels and their corrosion properties was studied. The
treatments were realized on a martensitic (AISI420) and a duplex (SAF2507) stainless steel using a plasma
generated by air at 1.5 bar. The corrosion resistance of the samples was analyzed with potentiodynamic
anodic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests in environments containing sulphates
and/or chlorides. The effects of the treatment on the oxide layer were studied using secondary ion mass
spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The plasma treatments allowed the growth of the
passive film and improved the corrosion resistance of the stainless steels.