Evaluation of the biocorrosion induced by Penicillium candidum on thermochemically treated 300M aerospace steel

Abstract

Multiphase steels are used in a number of industrial branches, and for some specific applications high technology is involved in their elaboration. Even though, some specific properties like hardness, corrosion resistance, friction wear, etc., can still be improved by thermal and thermochemical surface treatments. Plasma and laser nitriding and nitrocarburising processes of surface treatments have been effective to this aim. Concerning aeronautic steel corrosion, after these surface treatments, enhancement of the resistance to salt spray attack has been observed. However, biocorrosion studies of thermochemically treated steels are rarely found in the literature. This fact not only motivates the development of this work, but adds originality to the project as well. Hence, the purpose of the present work is to evaluate microstructurally the effect of the biocorrosion induced by the Penicillium candidum fungi on the 300M multiphase aeronautic steel thermochemically treated by plasma or by laser.