Corrosion resistance of carbon ion-implanted M50NiL aerospace bearing steel

The effect of carbon implantation on the corrosion behavior of M50NiL aerospace bearing steel through surface modification was investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the composition and structure of the carbon-implanted layer. The corrosion properties of the untreated and carbon ion-implanted samples were evaluated by potentiodynamic curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which were carried out in 3.5% NaCl solution. Ion implantation of carbon in the M50NiL bearing steel yielded a distinct decrease of the corrosion current densities and an obvious increase of the polarization resistance. The experimental results indicated that the content of chromium oxide in the passive film increased with carbon implantation and that the intergranular corrosion was suppressed in the carbon-implanted sample. Better corrosion protection was observed in the carbon ion implantation sample.