Thermogravimetric study of 316L steel coated by physical deposit in vapor deposition phase (PVD)

Catastrophic carburization (metal dusting) is one of the problems with the greatest impact on the petrochemical and direct iron reduction industry. This work shows the synthesis of chromium oxide (Cr2O3) coatings on 316L steel as a protective layer to prevent and/or delay material degradation. In this work, the Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) method will be used, since it is a technique that allows the control of the atmosphere in which the deposition is being carried out, forming high quality thin films, with excellent adherence to the substrate, thus improving its surface properties. Thin films with thicknesses less than one micrometer were obtained, which were subjected to corrosion tests by thermogravimetry in an atmosphere of CH4 at 800°C for 15 minutes and 20 hours, scanning electron microscopy and elemental quantification. The coatings obtained showed an improvement in their resistance to corrosion in critical atmospheric conditions according to the graphs obtained in the thermogravimetry test, observing a lower weight gain compared to the uncoated sample.