Improving Corrosion Resistance of Low Carbon Steel through Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment Duration

Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment (SMAT) is a method that has been recognized to enhance the properties of materials by refining their microstructure. In this study, SMAT was applied to low carbon steel (LCS) using 8 mm stainless steel balls. The effect of SMAT duration on the electrochemical performance of LCS in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution was investigated. The LCS sample treated with SMAT for 90 minutes exhibited a refined grain size of approximately 14 ± 3 nm. This sample showed a significant increase in corrosion potential (E_corr) towards the positive side and a notable 77% reduction in corrosion current density (i_corr) compared to untreated LCS. The enhanced corrosion resistance was attributed to grain refinement induced by SMAT, which limited the penetration of corrosive ions onto the substrate. Moreover, the reduction in surface roughness with increasing SMAT time further contributed to the improved corrosion resistance. The findings suggest that increasing the duration of SMAT leads to a finer microstructure and improved corrosion resistance in LCS. This underscores the potential of SMAT as a method to enhance the performance of LCS in corrosive environments.