The Importance of Phase Composition for Corrosion Resistance of Borided Layers Produced on Nickel Alloys

The plasma paste boriding process was used for production of the borided layers on pure nickel and nickel-chromium alloys. The produced layers consisted of nickel borides only (in the case of nickel) or a nickel and chromium borides mixture (in the case Ni–Cr alloys). The objective of this investigation was to indicate the importance of the presence of chromium for corrosion resistance of non-borided alloys, as well as to indicate the influence of phase composition of borided layers on their corrosion resistance. Pure nickel was characterized by higher corrosion resistance, in comparison to the nickel-based alloys. Increased chromium content in nickel alloys resulted in their high susceptibility for pitting corrosion. All borided samples were characterized by higher corrosion resistance than the non-borided samples. However, the phase composition of borided layers influenced their corrosion resistance. Due to the microstructure which consisted of one type of borides (nickel borides), borided nickel had the highest resistance to corrosion, whereas the presence of chromium borides in layers produced on nickel-chromium alloys caused a decrease in corrosion resistance.