Corrosion Hardness Effect of Steel Screws by Nanoindentation

As the most common failure mechanism in industry, corrosion of materials costs hundreds of billions of dollars annually to the U.S. economy [1]. It is critical to implement optimal corrosion control practices to improve lifecycle and asset management. Accelerated corrosion tests can substantially increase the measurement speed compared to those carried out in natural weathering. Laboratory corrosion tests that closely simulate the atmospheric effects on the corrosion mechanism of materials significantly facilitate the quality control and R&D of new materials and protective coatings for applications in aggressive environments.

The mechanical properties of materials deteriorate during the corrosion process. For example, lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) and goethite (α-FeOOH) form in the atmospheric corrosion of carbon steel. Their loose and porous nature results in absorption of moisture and in turn further acceleration of the corrosion process [2]. Akaganeite (β-FeOOH), another form of iron oxyhydroxide, is generated on the steel surface in chloride containing environments [3].

Nanoindentation can control the indentation depth in the range of nanometers and microns, making it possible to quantitatively measure the hardness and Young’s modulus of the corrosion products formed on the metal surface. It provides physicochemical insight in corrosion mechanisms involved so as to select the best candidate material for the target applications.

ℹ️ Learn more about nanoindentation lab services.

In this study, screws made of two types of steels were tested by nanoindentation. The steels are Stainless Steel 316 (SS316) and Alloy Steel with a Black Oxide surface finish, respectively. The screws were immersed in 3.5 wt. % NaCl solution for 7 days and 14 days, respectively. This is followed by cleaning and rinsing by isopropanol and acetone solutions before the nanoindentation test. The new screws without the corrosion process were also tested for comparison. The nanoindentation test conditions are summarized in Table 1. More than ten tests were performed at each condition to ensure repeatability of the measurement.

The load vs. displacement plots of the nanoindentation tests on SS316 and Alloy Steel screws after different corrosion time are shown in Fig. 2. The hardness as a function of the corrosion time is plotted in Fig. 3. The evolution of the NaCl solution and the Alloy Steel screws after 7 and 14 days corrosion attack are shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, respectively.

The SS316 exhibits consistent mechanical behaviors during the 14 days corrosion test in the 3.5 wt. % NaCl solution. It possesses a constant hardness of ~4.5 GPa, calculated from the comparable Load-Displacement curves. In comparison, the Alloy Steel screw shows a high surface hardness of 6.7 GPa, thanks to the mechanical enhancement by the black oxide surface finish. As the Alloy steel screws were corroded in the NaCl solution, reddish corrosion products progressively formed on the surface of the screws (Fig. 5) and were released in the solution (Fig. 4). Formation of such porous and loose rust led to deterioration of the hard black oxide film on the metal surface and ultimately reduced the surface hardness to ~4.6 GPa.

Accelerated corrosion tests in the corrosive media that simulate the natural weathering effect on metals have strategic importance in the quality control and R&D of new materials and protective coatings serving in the corrosive environment. Nanoindentation allows one to quantitatively evaluate the impact of corrosion on various metals or coatings so as to select the best candidate for the target applications. The evolution of the mechanical properties on the surface provides us a physicochemical insight in corrosion mechanisms involved in the formation of the corrosion products, which is critical for various industrial applications such as in the oil and marine industries. Stainless steels as reinforcement compared to carbon steels can enhance the durability and reliability of the mechanical parts exposed to aggressive environment.

The NANOVEA Mechanical Tester performs the nanoindentation test on two sets of screws made of SS316 and Alloy Steel, respectively. Accelerated corrosion tests in the salt solution provide results more quickly than those obtained from natural weathering, which facilitates the development of new alloys and protective coatings. Corrosion has a negative impact on the surface mechanical property such as hardness on the alloy steel, reducing the surface hardness from ~6.7 to ~4.6 GPa during the first seven days immersion in the 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. This value stays constant in the following seven days corrosion test. In comparison, the corrosion resistant SS316 screws exhibit constant hardness throughout the corrosion test, which demonstrates the importance of corrosion resistance to the reliability of the mechanical properties.

The NANOVEA Mechanical Testers provide unmatched multi-function Nano and Micro/Macro modules on a single platform. Both the Nano and Micro/Macro modules include scratch tester, hardness tester and wear tester modes, providing the widest and most user friendly range of testing available on a single module.

NACE International, corrosion cost study supplement, http://www.nace.org/uploadedFiles/Publications/ccsupp.pdf
E. Almeida, M. Morcillo, B. Rosales, and M. Marrocos, “Atmospheric corrosion of mild steel part I—rural and urban atmospheres,” Materials and Corrosion, vol. 51, no. 12, pp. 859–864, 2000.
T. Kamimura, S. Hara, H. Miyuki, M. Yamashita, and H. Uchida, “Composition and protective ability of rust layer formed on weathering steel exposed to various environments,” Corrosion Science, vol. 48, no. 9, pp. 2799–2812, 2006.