Avoiding the aparition of corrosion phenomena and mitigating their effects is key to increasing the useful life and optimal performance of metallic components and structures.
The work of the AZTERLAN materials protection and corrosion research team is oriented towards the development of components that are more resistant to hostile working environments through innovation in materials, manufacturing processes and coatings.
Studying the chemical reactions with transfer of electrons provides high added value information about the thermochemical and thermodynamic behavior of materials to assess their responsponse in different media and work environments.
- Hydrogen permeation studies
- Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)
- Polarization studies at different temperatures: corrosion potential (Ecorr), corrosion current density (Icorr), corrosion speed (Vcorr)
- Polarization resistance (Rp)
The “skin” of the components fulfills key functions such as protecting, promoting adherence or, even, aesthetics. However, it can be adapted to also provide new features that respond to specific requirements.
- Surface modification by means of chemical diffusion.
- Mechanical modification by means of compression forces to improve resistance to fatigue and wear.
- Preparation of active surfaces to improve protection properties, provide new functionalities to favor subsequent treatments or finishes
Knowing how metallic materials behave in different environments and under different stimuli is the way to provide solutions to the industry.
- Modelization of corrosion behavior
- Study of the fuctional response of multi-materials
- Study of the impact of high termperature on materials
In addition to helping improve the life of the components, tools and equipment, the new treatments must also respond to sustainability criteria and help reducing the environmental and health impact of the industry.
The goal is to develop chemical treatments with the following features:
- Lower environmental impact
- Are not hazardous for health
- Industrialization of surface transformation processes.
- Incorporation of surface finishing and surface activation technologies to the transformation processes.
- Optimization of anodizing and sealing processes.
- Adjustment of heat treatments, chemical treatments and mechanical treatments.
- Development of ad hoc alloys with improved properties.
- Evaluation of the optimal characteristics of metallic materials for hostile environments and demanding applications.
- Advice on the selection of optimal protection.
- High temperature oxidation.
- Hydrogen embrittlement phenomena.
- Atmospheric corrosion.