Erosion–corrosion behaviour of spark plasma sintered WC - 12Co in aggressive media

• Published in: International journal of refractory metals & hard materials Vol. 66; pp. 36 - 43
• Main Authors: Ige, O.O., Aribo, S., Obadele, B.A., Langa, T., Oluwasegun, K.M., Shongwe, M.B., Olubambi, P.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shrewsbury Elsevier BV 01-08-2017
• Subjects: Acid resistance; Cermets; Corrosion; Corrosion mechanisms; Corrosion resistance; Corrosion tests; Degradation; Destructive testing; Erosion mechanisms; Erosion-corrosion; Hardness testing; Hardness tests; Industrial applications; Materials selection; Morphology; Plasma sintering; Rotating cylinders; Rotating plasmas; Seawater; Sintering; Studies; Sulfuric acid; Uniform attack (corrosion)
• ISSN: 0263-4368
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2017.02.005

Erosion-corrosion is a complex degradation mechanism prevalent in multiphase system and material selection is a strategy to mitigate the destructive process. This study evaluates the candidature of spark plasma sintered WC-12Co in aggressive media and with sand particles via rotating cylinder electrode. Corrosion and hardness tests were carried out, and the cermets surface morphology was examined. General corrosion results from total mass loss showed the least degradation resistance in sulphuric acid which informed the recommendation of the alloy for industrial applications in simulated mine water and seawater. Localised attack parameters from cyclic potentiodynamic polarization and the micrographs were well correlated.