Nano/Micro ZrO2 Particles Dispersion on St37 Steel by Using Friction Stir Processing and Investigating Its Effect on Steel Corrosion Resistance Promotion

In this paper, the effect of Friction Stir Processing (FSP) on the enhancement of St37 properties against corrosion has been investigated. The FSP was carried out in 4 modes on St37: The first state of the process was done with a rotational speed of 900 rpm and without micro/Nano particles, the second state was done at a rotational speed of 560 rpm and with ZrO2</sub> micro particles, the third state was done with a rotational speed of 560 rpm and with ZrO2</sub> nanoparticles and the fourth state was done with a rotational speed of 900 rpm and with ZrO2</sub> nanoparticles. The traverse speed in all samples was 100 mm/min. Corrosion resistance of all 4 prepared samples was compared with the one in St37 steel Base Metal (which FSP had not been done on it). The results showed that the sample produced by FSP with ZrO2</sub> nanoparticles and rotational speed of 900 rpm has the highest increase in corrosion resistance. All Nano dispersed samples showed more corrosion resistance than the Base Metal. The two samples, the FSPed one without any particle and the FSPed one with micro particles, showed less corrosion resistance in comparison to the one in Base Metal. Increasing the rotational speed of the process led to an increase in the corrosion resistance of the sample.