The Study of Surface Modification 304 Stainless Steel in Simulated PEMFC Environments

In order to increase the corrosion resistant and reduce the interfacial contact resistance of the stainless steel, the duplex treatment technology of electroplating Cr and plasma-assisted nitriding process for AISI 304SS is exploited. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the electrochemical tests such as potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization in the simulation PEMFC environments are measured. XRD showed that the surface layer of the 540 ° C and 550 ° C were Cr and Cr2N; the 580 °C was the CrN and Cr2N. The nitride sample of the 550 °C could see the closure process of the mesh crack. Compared with the simulated PEMFC anode environment, higher corrosion resistance was showed in the simulated PEMFC cathode environment. The current density of the 540°C, 550°C and 580°C samples were negative at the operating potential -0.1V, which would provide cathodic protection to the metallic bipolar plates. In the simulated cathode environment, the current densities of the three samples were quickly stabilized, the surface quickly formed a stable passive film.

Transmission Electron Microscopy Investigation on the Electron-stimulated Oxidation of Iron Nitrides by 2-MeV Electron Irradiation

An iron nitride sample was irradiated by 2-MeV electrons intermittently for 2100 s with a dose rate of 6.3 × 1024 e.m.−2 s−1 inside a 3-MV high-voltage transmission electron microscope. The electron-stimulated oxidation of Fe4N and Fe2–3N was investigated in situ and ex situ using conventional transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution electron microscopy. It was found that both Fe4N and Fe2–3N nitrides were oxidized by the residual gas in the vacuum chamber to form Fe3O4 oxides. The orientation relationship between Fe4N (γ′) and Fe3O4 (o) was (110)γ′//(220)o, [001]γ′//[001]o, and that between Fe2–3N (ϵ) and Fe3O4 (o) was (110)ϵ//(−220)o, [1–11]ϵ//[001]o. Crystal lattice deformation from iron nitride to iron oxide took place during the dynamic oxidation process. Structural models were proposed to understand the oxide formation, and the models were confirmed by experimental observations. The irradiation effects of Fe4N and Fe2–3N crystals were compared. The results show that Fe4N is more sensitive than Fe2–3N to electron irradiation. These results are important not only for the fabrication of insulating iron oxide film, but also in the field of the surface modification of iron nitride to improve its mechanical properties.

Studies on the Scale-Up of the Microwave-Assisted Nitridation and Sintering of Reaction-Bonded Silicon Nitride

Studies using laboratory test samples have shown that microwave heating produces sintered reaction-bonded silicon nitride materials with improved properties [1,2]. The final challenge for processing this material by microwave heating is the development of a technology for processing larger batch-size quantities of these materials. Initial microwave scale-up experiments were performed using powder compacts of a bucket tappet geometry. In experiments using microwave-transparent boron nitride sample crucibles, temperature gradients within some crucibles led to larger variations in the sample densities than were obtained with the conventionally processed samples. The use of a microwave-suscepter type crucible made of silicon carbide and boron nitride resulted in an improved temperature uniformity and in density variations comparable to those obtained for the control groups.