The prospects of applying ionic modification of nitride coatings to high temperature corrosion processes in the oil and gas industry

The use of ion modification methods associated with high-dose irradiation with low-energy ions is one of the promising ways to increase the resistance of materials to external influences, including high-temperature corrosion. The process of ionic modification involves creating a near-surface layer of material with a high dislocation density due to implantation effects. This inhibits destructive processes caused by corrosive oxidation or mechanical influences. In this work, using the ion modification method to improve the resistance to high temperature corrosion, the authors modified nitride coatings of the order of 500 nm thick. The main purpose of using the ion modification method was to increase the strength characteristics of nitride coatings against high-temperature corrosion, as well as to reduce the effects of coating degradation to mechanical softening and wear after corrosion tests. In the course of the studies, it was found that the use of low-energy irradiation with O 2+ ions (40 keV) leads to an increase in the stability of strength characteristics during high-temperature corrosion (with prolonged heating in an oxygen-containing environment at a temperature 700 °C), as well as a decrease in wear in comparison with unmodified nitride coatings applied to the surface of 316L steel. The promise of these studies lies in the development of new methods for modifying steel structures, which will improve the efficiency of resistance to corrosion and mechanical damage, as well as increase the wear resistance of the surface under external mechanical influences. The possibility of increasing stability due to deformation inclusions caused by implantation makes it possible to increase corrosion resistance by increasing the resistance of materials to high-temperature oxidation.