Effects of Cold Rolling on the Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of the Double-Glow Plasma Ni-Cr Alloying Layer on Q235 Steel

A Ni-Cr alloyed layer was prepared on the surface of Q235 steel using double-glow plasma surface alloying (DGPSA) technology and the alloyed layer was cold-rolled with different deformation rates. The microstructure, composition distribution and phase composition of the alloyed layer were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and an electrochemical workstation. On this basis, the corrosion resistance of the alloyed layer was analyzed. The results showed that a Ni-Cr alloyed layer formed on the surface of Q235 steel following double-glow plasma nickel–chromium alloying. The alloy elements of Ni and Cr were distributed in a gradient from the outside to the inside and the main phases were FeCr(0.29)Ni(0.16)C(0.06), Cr(23)C(6) and γ solid solution. The alloyed layer, once cold-rolled with different deformation rates, underwent synchronous plastic deformation with the substrate, with no fracturing and spalling. The self-corrosion potential of the cold-rolled specimens in 5% H(2)SO(4) and 3.5% NaCl solution is close to that of 304L stainless steel, and the corrosion currents are much lower. The corrosion resistance of the cold-rolled specimens is comparable to the original specimens, with no significant changes.