SOL-GEL TIO2-SIO2 FILMS AS PROTECTIVE COATINGS AGAINST CORROSION OF 316L STAINLESS-STEEL IN H2SO4 SOLUTIONS

Sol-gel TiO2-SiO2 films were deposited on 316L stainless steel by dip coating process from a sonocatalysed sol of composition 30TiO(2)-70SiO(2) prepared from a mixture of Ti(OC2H5)(4) and Si(OC2H5)(4), absolute ethanol C2H5OH and glacial acetic acid CH3COOH as precursors and solvents. The films, densified at 800 degrees C in air for 2 h, are composed of small orthorhombic titania (anatase) crystallites embedded in a SiO2 amorphous matrix as identified by X-ray diffraction. The temperature dependence of the him morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the content was determined by FTIR reflection spectroscopy. The corrosion behaviour of 316L stainless steel samples coated with densified 30TiO(2)-70SiO(2) films was studied in 15% H2SO4 by potentiodynamic polarization curves at 25, 40 and 50 degrees C. The measured corrosion rates show a considerable decrease for the protected steel samples in comparison to the bare substrate. The effect of time of heat treatment of the films on the corrosion parameters is also reported.