Characterization and corrosion behavior of injection molded 17-4 PH steel electrochemically coated with poly[trans-dichloro(4-vinylpyridine)ruthenium]

The present study describes preliminary results on the corrosion resistance of injection molded 17-4 PH stainless steel potentiostatically coated with poly {trans-[RuCl2(vpy)(4)]}, where vpy (4-vinylpyridine) acts as a ligand . The coated electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy, as well as by electrochemical technique s. The microstructural analysis indicated that the films reached up to 100 mu m thickness. Cyclic voltammetry was carried out in 0.1 M tetrabutylammon ium hexafluorophosphate/methyl isobutyl ketone. The results revealed a scan rate dependent wave corresponding to a Ru2+/Ru3+ redox reaction, thus conf irming the presence of ruthenium in the films. Anodic polarization tests we re performed in 3% NaCl in order to estimate the anodic dissolution current density and the corrosion rate of the material. The results indicated that coating the substrate improved the corrosion resistance of the material.