Introduction

Gas turbines operating in marine environment where ingestion of solid particles of NaCl is unavoidable, undergo severe corrosion at elevated temperature. Therefore, materials with high strength and high corrosion resistance are required for power generation and aero engine components in such environments. The Ni-Fe-based superalloy IN718 is mostly used as disk and blade material in compressor section of the gas turbine engines of advanced power plants and aero engines (Ref 1). Although Ni-base superalloys possess good strength at the operating temperatures of turbines, but suffer from hot corrosion from salts in the marine environment (Ref 2, 3). It is well known that in hot corrosion salt/salt mixtures fuse and accelerate the rate of oxidation and sulfidation of superalloys at elevated temperature. There are two types of hot corrosion; high-temperature hot corrosion (HTHC) above 750 °C, and low-temperature hot corrosion (LTHC) in the temperature range of 550-750 °C. In the HTHC, Na2SO4 undergoes melting, whereas in LTHC it forms eutectic of Na2SO4-MSO4 (M=Ni, Co, and Fe) (Ref 4,5,6). In the NaCl environment, corrosion rate is highly dependent on the oxygen partial pressure and corrosion rate is increased. The high rate of dissolution of such materials indicated that the protective oxides formed on them were not effective in the molten NaCl (Ref 5, 7). There was intense spalling, sputtering, and enormous weight gain during HTHC in aggressive environments (Ref 8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19). Electrochemical hot corrosion tests were performed in Na2SO4, 80V2O5 + 20Na2SO4, and NaVO3 environments; corrosion rate was found to increase in the Na2SO4 and NaVO3 with increase in temperature (Ref 20). Corrosion rate of the Cr/Co-Al coated superalloy was lower than that of the uncoated one due to formation of continuous, dense, adherent, and protective oxide scale over the surface of the component (Ref 21). The protective oxide scales were thin layers of Cr2O3, Al2O3, and CoCr2O4 which formed over the Cr/Co-Al coated superalloy substrate, exposed to the molten salt environment of Na2SO4-60% V2O5, at 900 °C. (Cr(1−x)Alx)N coatings with three different chemical compositions were deposited using magnetron sputtering of an industrial size PVD coater CC800/9, and significantly higher hot corrosion resistance was observed for the coated samples in the Na2SO4 environment in respect of the uncoated one. The excellent corrosion resistant behavior of the coated sample was attributed to formation of a protective scale on the coated surface, consisting of mainly a dense Al2O3 layer (Ref 22). Several investigations have been carried out related to hot corrosion in different salt mixtures for different protective coatings and TBCs (Ref 23, 24).

Thus, it may clearly be seen that due to the presence of salts like NaCl, Na2SO4, and V2O5, hot corrosion resistance of the superalloy IN718 is drastically reduced. In the case of marine gas turbines, filters are used to remove NaCl particles suspended in air; however, since volume of the air used is too large, NaCl particles invariably remain there in the ingested air. Sulfur and vanadium in the fuel form Na2SO4 and V2O5 compounds during combustion. Deposition of salts on surface of alloys leads to deterioration of the protective oxides. As the time passes, corrosion products penetrate the alloy by diffusion, corrode the substrate repeatedly, and roughen the surface. The problem of hot corrosion has drawn attention of researchers due to increase in the inlet temperature of gas turbines and lowering of chromium content of advanced superalloys (Ref 25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32). It is known that a surface with higher roughness is more prone to corrosion due to increase in the surface area (Ref 33). In our previous study, the effect of surface roughness was investigated on corrosion behavior of the superalloy IN718 in the salt S and in the salt mixtures SM1 and SM2, at 600 °C (Ref 34). The rate of corrosion was found to increase with roughness of the surface and was highest in the salt S, followed by those in the salt mixtures SM2 and SM1.

Several means are being used to modify the surface and develop nanostructure. Ultrasonic shot peening is a relatively new process of generating surface nanostructure. Mechanical properties of metallic materials are significantly improved by surface nanostructuring without changing their chemical compositions (Ref 35, 36). Effect of surface grain refinement by shot peening was studied on oxidation behavior of the Inconel 800 alloy, and improvement in oxidation resistance was observed (Ref 37). Similar enhancement in oxidation resistance from surface nanostructuring has also been observed in zirconium (Ref 38). The effect of surface nanostructuring from ultrasonic shot peening was studied on hot corrosion behavior of Ti-6Al-4V, at 400, 500, and 600 °C, and the hot corrosion resistance was found to improve due to ultrasonic shot peening (Ref 39). However, there is no report on the effect of ultrasonic shot peening on hot corrosion behavior of the superalloy IN718.

The present work is an extension of our previous work at 600 °C on hot corrosion of the alloy IN718, to study the effect of the salt S, and salt mixtures SM1 and SM2, on the specimens of varying roughness, at higher temperature of 700 °C and to compare with that at 600 °C (Ref 34). In addition, the effect of ultrasonic shot peening is studied on hot corrosion resistance of this alloy in the salt mixture SM1 at 700 °C.

Experimental

The chemical composition, heat treatment cycle, sample preparation, surface roughness measurement, the process of salt coating, and the procedure of hot corrosion test of the superalloy IN718 used in the present investigation are reported in our earlier publication (Ref 34). In this study, dislocation density and microhardness of the specimens, of different surface roughness, were also evaluated using XRD and Leco microhardness tester, respectively. For surface modification, a novel technique of ultrasonic shot peening was used and this process is described in detail elsewhere (Ref 35). It is relevant to mention that prior to USP treatment the sample was mechanically polished and its surface roughness was 0.08 µm. It was subjected to ultrasonic shot peening using Stress Voyager (SONATS) for 5 min with hardened steel balls of 3 mm diameter, at a frequency of 20 kHz, at constant amplitude of 80 μm, and the hot corrosion tests were conducted. The oxidized and corroded specimens were washed in hot distilled water and subsequently in acetone using ultrasonic cleaner for microscopic examination. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction study were carried out for analyzing the oxidation and corrosion products. The cross section morphology was examined by scanning electron microscope (Zeiss EVO/18). Also the cross section of the sample ground on 400 grit and hot corroded by the salt mixture SM1 was examined using the Electron Probe Micro Analyzer (EPMA) CAMECA SX Five instrument for the distribution of elements in the oxide layer and substrate.

Results

Dislocation Density and Microhardness

Dislocation density (ρ) of the samples ground with 1000 (Ra1), 800 (Ra2), 600 (Ra3), and 400 (Ra4) grit SiC emery papers was calculated by XRD and using the relationship given below (Ref 40):

$$\rho = \frac{{3\sqrt {2\pi } }}{Db}(\varepsilon^{2} )^{1/2}$$
(1)

where D is average crystallite size [Scherrer and Wilson equation (Ref 41), D = \(\frac{0.9\lambda }{B\cos \theta }\)], ε is micro strain [Williamson Hall equation (Ref 42), Bcosθ = \(\frac{0.9\lambda }{D} + 4\varepsilon \sin \theta\), λ is x-ray wavelength, θ is Bragg angle, and B is line broadening], b is Burgers vector (b = a/\(\sqrt 2\) for FCC structure), and a is lattice parameter. The dislocation density corresponding to average roughness of Ra1, Ra2, Ra3, and Ra4 was estimated to be 1.9 × 109 m−2 (ρ1), 2.48 × 109 m−2 (ρ2), 2.66 × 109 m−2 (ρ3), and 4.68 × 109 m−2 (ρ4), respectively, using XRD. It is evident from Fig. 1(a) that dislocation density increases with surface roughness.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Effect of surface roughness on: (a) dislocation density and (b) microhardness

Figure 1(b) shows variation of microhardness of the samples, ground with 1000 (Ra1), 800 (Ra2), 600 (Ra3), and 400 (Ra4) grit emery papers with Ra: 0.09, 0.16, 0.28, and 0.46 µm, respectively. Microhardness of the samples with surface roughness Ra1, Ra2, Ra3, and Ra4 was 451 ± 1.9, 466 ± 1.7, 479 ± 1.7, and 501 ± 2.7 HV, respectively. Thus, microhardness of the samples gradually increased with increase in the surface roughness (Fig. 1b).

Grain Size Measurement of the Ultrasonic Shot Peened Samples

The grain refinement and microstructural phases were characterized using XRD analysis. Peaks of γ, γ′, and γ″ are shown in Fig. 2 for the un-shot peened and 5 min USPed samples. The matrix is γ, whereas γ′ and γ″ are precipitate phases of Ni3(Al, Ti) and Ni3Nb with FCC and BCT crystal structure, respectively. No phase change was observed due to ultrasonic shot peening; however, there was peak broadening in the 5 min USPed sample in respect of the untreated one. The average grain size of the USPed samples was calculated using the Scherrer and Wilson equation (Ref 41).

$$D = \frac{0.9\lambda }{B\cos \theta }$$
(2)

where λ is x-ray wavelength, θ is Bragg angle, and B is line broadening. The average grain size of the sample USPed for 5 min was found to be about 82 nm.

Fig. 2
figure 2

X-ray diffraction of un-shot peened and ultrasonic shot peened superalloy IN718

Hot Corrosion Kinetics

The influence of salt/salt mixtures on the hot corrosion behavior was established from the plots of square of weight gain per unit area with time of exposure. Negligible weight gain was found in the uncoated samples from exposure at 700 °C. However, significantly large weight gain was there in the samples coated with the salt S and the salt mixture SM1 as compared with that coated with the salt mixture SM2. The plots of the square of weight gain per unit area of the samples exposed at 700 °C for a period of 100 h are shown in Fig. 3. The samples coated with salt/salt mixture show parabolic behavior for the entire period of exposure of 100 h. The plot of the square of weight gain/area (mg2/cm4) versus time (hrs) is used to establish rate law for the process of hot corrosion. The parabolic rate constant kp is calculated using equation (∆W/A)2 = kp × t + C, where ∆W/A is weight gain per unit surface area (mg/cm2), t is the time of exposure, and C is a constant (Ref 43).

Fig. 3
figure 3

Plots of square of weight gain per unit area vs. time from exposure at 700 °C for different surface roughness: (a) Ra1; (b) Ra2; (c) Ra3; and (d) Ra4; of the specimens coated with S, SM1, and SM2

The calculated values of the parabolic rate constants are shown in Fig. 4(a) and (b). A higher value of kp implies faster rate of oxidation/corrosion at a given temperature. The value of kp is found to be maximum for 700 °C in the sample coated with salt S. The weight gain plots are best fitted using linear least-square method. It is obvious from Fig. 4 that the value of kp is higher for the sample exposed to salt S for all the different grades of roughness, than for those coated with the salt mixtures SM1 and SM2. Further, kp increases with roughness of the surface in all the samples coated with S, SM1, and SM2. It is important to mention that at 600 °C the samples coated with SM1 showed lowest corrosion among the samples coated with salt S and the salt mixtures. On the other hand, the present study at higher temperature of 700 °C shows opposite behavior and the salt mixture SM1 is much more corrosive than the three salt mixture (SM2). Further, it is important to mention that at 700 °C the highest hot corrosion is from the coating of salt S, but the relative increase in the weight gain/area at 700 °C compared with that at 600 °C for the sample coated with salt S is only 49%, whereas it is 153% for the sample coated with salt mixture SM1, and only 8% for that coated with SM2. The effectiveness of ultrasonic shot peening on hot corrosion resistance is quite obvious from Table 1, showing weight gain per unit area for different roughness and the sample USPed for 5 min. Thus, it is obvious that there is increase in weight gain per unit area by 0.8, 2, 2.6, and 3.5 mg/cm2 for the un-shot peened samples of varying roughnesses of Ra1, Ra2, Ra3, and Ra4, respectively, in respect of the sample with initial roughness 0.08 µm and subsequently subjected to USP for 5 min.

Fig. 4
figure 4

Effect of surface irregularity on the parabolic rate constants of the samples coated with salt S and salt mixtures SM1 and SM2, exposed at 700 °C for different durations: (a) up to 25 h (b) from 25 to 100 h

Table 1 Effect of ultrasonic shot peening and surface roughness on hot corrosion of the superalloy IN718 at 700 °C, exposed for 100 h

X-ray Diffraction Analysis

The nature of the phases formed from high-temperature corrosion affects the process of corrosion of the material. The XRD patterns of the un-shot peened and 5 min USPed samples coated with SM1 salt mixture after the exposure of 100 h at 700 °C are shown in Fig. 5. Several oxides, sulfides, vandates such as Cr2O3, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, NiVO3, FeVO4, NaVO3, NiV2O7, Ni(VO4)7, FeS, CrS, NiS Na2Cr2O7, NaCrO4, NiFe2O4 may be seen to form.

Fig. 5
figure 5

X-ray diffraction patterns of the un-shot peened and 5 min ultrasonic shot peened samples coated with SM1 salt mixture and exposed at 700 °C up to 100 h

Diffusion of Corrosion Products

The samples hot corroded in the SM1 salt mixture, from the exposure of 100 h at 700 °C, were sectioned transversely, perpendicular to the corroded surface, to assess the depth of penetration of the corrodants below the surface, at different surface roughness and dislocation densities. Figure 6 shows that the depth of penetration of the corrosion products in the sample with different surface roughness is in the order: Ra4 > Ra3 > Ra2 > Ra1, for the SM1 salt coated samples. Oxidation and sulfidation are found to be the main cause of damage for the SM1 coated samples.

Fig. 6
figure 6

SEM micrographs showing the effect of surface roughness on the depth of penetration of corrosion products in the samples coated with salt mixture SM1 and exposed at 700 °C for 100 h

Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA)

Wavelength dispersive spectroscopy (WDS) was used for elemental mapping of the corroded samples. EPMA analysis of coated samples in the highest corrosive state (400 grit ground sample) and the sample USPed for 5 min was performed to examine the elemental distribution in these specimens. The un-shot peened and shot peened samples corroded by SM1 coating, exposed at 700 °C for 100 h, were sectioned perpendicular to the corroded surface, and the elemental maps show variation of nickel, iron, chromium, oxygen in the hot corroded samples (Fig. 8). The diffusion of nickel, iron, and chromium from the base material toward the surface of the substrate resulted in formation of NiO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, Cr2O3 oxides.

Discussion

There is little gain in the weight of the uncoated sample exposed at 700 °C, and small gain in the weight of the samples coated with the three salt mixture SM2, from exposure at 700 °C. This may be attributed to formation of an intact and protective oxide layer on the uncoated sample. On the other hand, there is significant gain in weights of the samples coated with the salt S, followed by that coated with the dual salt mixture SM1, from the exposure at 700 °C for 100 h. It may be seen that there are dual slopes in the plots of the square of weight gain per unit area versus the time of exposure in the samples coated with the salt S and the three salt mixture SM2 (Fig. 3). This behavior is attributed to spalling of scales in these samples due to the stresses induced by the oxide films during their growth. At some point, the increase in thickness of the scale is unable to sustain the associated stress and leads to breakage of the scale and subsequent spallation of the oxide layer (Ref 44). The partial spallation of scale in some regions exposes the subsurface of the alloy to air environment to cause oxidation at the exposed subsurface, and thus, the overall corrosion kinetics slows down. However, in the samples with coating of the salt mixture SM1, exposed at 700 °C for 100 h, the coating was found adherent and there was no spallation of scale; therefore, there is a single slope for this condition (Fig. 3).

In general, corrosion kinetics of the rough samples is found to be higher than those of the smoother ones. Also, the weight gain per unit area and kp values are relatively higher for the samples exposed to salt S and the salt mixture SM1. Square of weight gain per unit area versus time plot show that corrosion rate is slow for the initial 5 h and increases rapidly till 25 h and remains almost constant up to 100 h, for the samples coated with salt S and the salt mixture SM2. The exposure of the first 25 h is more aggressive because of continuous formation of corrosion products over the substrate; however, the corrosion rate is slowed down after 25 h for the samples coated with salt S and the salt mixture SM2. The oxide layer was formed due to initial corrosion reaction and acted as a barrier against further penetration of the remaining salt/salt mixtures. On the other hand, samples coated with SM1 salt mixture show increasing trend of weight gain/area up to 100 h. Parabolic nature of hot corrosion is exhibited by all the samples coated with S, SM1, and SM2. The small deviation from the parabolic rate law could be due to cyclic scale growth. It may also be noticed that NaCl is most aggressive at 700 °C due to volatility of chlorides, and the SM2 salt mixture also shows aggressiveness at 700 °C due to sulfidation.

Mechanical grinding of surface causes cold deformation of the surface region, and the dislocation density increases (Fig. 1a). The dislocation density increases with surface roughness, likewise the microhardness also increases (Fig. 1b). The deleterious effect of cold working on corrosion resistance of the austenitic stainless steels was revealed in acidic and chloride containing media (Ref 45). In the case of a rougher surface, larger surface area is involved in the process of corrosion to result in high rate of corrosion (Ref 34, 46, 47). A schematic presentation of the probable mechanism of hot corrosion, based on the effect of surface roughness, is shown in Fig. 7. The ground surface exhibits various peaks and valleys at the surface of the sample (Fig. 7a). All the valleys get filled with deposition of salt/salt mixtures, whereas the peaks have much less amount of salt/salt mixtures for the reaction (Fig. 7b); therefore, the surfaces with deeper valleys undergo severe corrosion. Diffusion of salt/salt mixture starts at 700 °C toward interior of the specimen and diffusion of alloying elements toward the surface of specimen (Fig. 7c and d). Penetration of corrodants in the bulk of the specimen occurs through the valley (Fig. 7e). Figure 7(f) shows broadening of valley due to corrosive reactions taking place and the formation of oxides and pits at the interface of the alloy and corrodant.

Fig. 7
figure 7

Schematic showing the effect of surface roughness on hot corrosion of the superalloy IN718 at 700 °C

The samples ground by the most rough emery paper (#400) with the average surface roughness Ra4 ≈ 0.46 µm and the dislocation density ρ4 = 4.68 × 109 m−2, showed highest weight gain, and the most deleterious effect is observed in the samples coated with SM1, from exposure at 700 °C for 100 h. The depth of penetration of the corrosive species is found to be 7.2, 9.9, 12.1, and 17.5 µm corresponding to average roughness of Ra1, Ra2, Ra3, and Ra4 from Fig. 6(a-d), respectively.

It was found that the severity of hot corrosion at 600 °C was in decreasing order from the coatings of salt S, followed by that of the salt mixture SM2 and was lowest in the salt mixture SM1. On the other hand, this sequence is changed as S > SM1 > SM2 at 700 °C. Since the salt mixture SM1 undergoes eutectic melting at 603 °C (Ref 48), corrosion resistance of the sample coated with SM1 salt mixture at 600 °C was not much affected at 600 °C and the Cr2O3 layer formed was quite protective (Ref 49). The mechanism of hot corrosion of the sample coated with SM1, the most corrosive one with roughness Ra4 and dislocation density, ρ4 = 4.68 × 109 m−2, was studied in detail.

Out of the four samples with different surface roughnesses exposed in the salt mixture SM1; the sample with the maximum surface roughness of Ra1 showed much higher weight gain as compared with that exposed at 600 °C for 100 h. The surface with higher roughness was more susceptible to corrosive attack than the smoother ones due to its greater surface area. Oxygen penetrated the substrate and formed oxides of Cr, Fe, and Ni which led to weight gain. Some possible oxidation reactions with this salt mixture are reported in our earlier publication (Ref 34). The solubility of the protective oxides in the molten salt mixture SM1 is higher than that in Na2SO4; therefore, the dissolution of the protective oxide layer took place (Ref 50). V2O5 reacted with Cr2O3, Fe2O3, and NiO and formed vanadate compounds at the oxide salt interface along with the formation of Na2Cr2O7. Dissociation of sodium sulfate to attain equilibrium at oxide/salt interface takes place. Basic fluxing process leads to formation of different products as per the following reactions (3-6):

$${\text{Na}}_{ 2} {\text{SO}}_{4} = \, 2{\text{Na}}^{ + } + {\text{SO}}_{4}^{2 - }$$
(3)
$${\text{SO}}_{4}^{2 - } = {\text{S}}^{2 - } + 2{\text{O}}_{2}$$
(4)
$${\text{NiO}} + {\text{O}}^{2 - } = {\text{NiO}}_{2}^{2 - }$$
(5)
$${\text{Cr}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{3} + 1.5{\text{O}}_{2} + 2{\text{O}}^{2 - } = \, 2{\text{CrO}}_{4}^{2 - }$$
(6)

Sulfur ions react with Cr, Fe, and Ni or with their oxides and form following sulfides which break the protective chromia layer (Ref 6).

$${\text{Ni}} + {\text{S}}^{2 - } = {\text{NiS}}$$
(7)
$${\text{Cr}} + {\text{S}}^{2 - } = {\text{CrS}}$$
(8)
$${\text{Fe}} + {\text{S}}^{2 - } = {\text{FeS}}$$
(9)
$${\text{NiO}}_{2}^{2 - } = {\text{NiO}} + {\text{O}}^{2 - }$$
(10)
$$2{\text{CrO}}_{4}^{2 - } = {\text{Cr}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}_{3} + {\text{O}}^{2 - } + 2{\text{O}}_{2}$$
(11)

The salt mixture SM1 with 60 wt.% Na2SO4 and 40 wt.% V2O5 forms a very hazardous and low melting phase of sodium meta vanadate (NaVO3) with melting point of 610 °C (Ref 51) which significantly enhances the oxygen activity (Ref 50).

$${\text{Na}}_{ 2} {\text{SO}}_{4} + {\text{V}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}_{5} = 2{\text{NaVO}}_{3} + {\text{SO}}_{3} \left( {\text{g}} \right)$$
(12)

At 700 °C, the fluidity of the molten eutectic increases (Ref 49) and the increase in severity of hot corrosion led to weight gain per unit area of the SM1 coated samples. Vanadates are known to cause severe damage to protective oxide of Cr2O3 (Ref 50).

EPMA analysis also supports the above statement (Fig. 8a). Here, it is worth mentioning that the weight gain per unit area from the SM1 coating is nearly 153% more at 700 °C as compared with that at 600 °C (Ref 34). The EPMA results show the extent of diffusion of alloying elements from the substrate to surface and that of salt elements from the surface into the substrate. It may be seen that Cr was involved more in corrosion reaction during hot corrosion, as it is depleted more from the base alloy. The corrosion of the superalloy IN718 with the SM1 salt mixture coating, at 700 °C, is primarily by the oxidation process followed by sulfidation reactions as indicated above.

Fig. 8
figure 8

EPMA/SE x-ray mapping of cross sections of specimens coated with salt mixture SM1 and exposed at 700 °C for 100 h, showing distribution of different elements: nickel, chromium, iron, and oxygen for (a) un-shot peened sample and (b) 5 min USPed sample

Furthermore, corrosion resistance is found to be enhanced by the novel process of ultrasonic shot peening. The presence of Cr2O3 layer on the shot peened samples resulted in improved corrosion resistance of the alloy because of extensive grain refinement at the surface. These results are in agreement with the earlier investigation (Ref 52). Here, the diffusivity of chromium increases with increase in the population of grain boundary which leads to formation of highly protective Cr2O3 as compared to that in the un-shot peened one (Ref 37). Oxygen diffusivity is increased on the modified surface before the formation of protective layer, and it is decreased after the formation of protective layer by covering the grain boundaries on the shot peened surface (Ref 39, 53). The more protective effect of the oxide layer of Cr2O3 formed at 700 °C on the USPed surface is quite evident from the much better uniformity and higher thickness of the compact Cr2O3 layer formed on the USPed sample (Fig. 8b).

Conclusions

The following conclusions are drawn from this study:

  1. (a)

    Hot corrosion of the superalloy IN718 coated with salt S and salt mixtures SM1 and SM2 exhibited parabolic kinetics at 700 °C. The weight gain analysis showed that IN718 had higher oxidation resistance at 700 °C without any coating and the salt S coated sample exhibited higher weight gain at 700 °C from exposure of 100 h as compared with the samples coated with the salt mixtures SM1 and SM2, in respect of that observed earlier at 600 °C.

  2. (b)

    The relative increase in weight gain/area from exposure at 700 °C as compared with that at 600 °C, from the salt S is only 49%, whereas it is 153% from SM1, and only 8% from the SM2 coating.

  3. (c)

    The solubility of the protective oxides in the molten salts of sulfate–vanadate mixture at 700 °C is higher than in Na2SO4; therefore, there was dissolution of the protective oxide layer.

  4. (d)

    The highly damaging low melting compound of NaVO3 increased the severity of corrosion of the sample coated with SM1, enhancing the activity of oxygen.

  5. (e)

    Higher surface roughness increased the rate of corrosion due to nucleation and growth of oxides at the surface and penetration of corrosion products through the surface to the bulk of the alloy. Also, the sample with higher roughness had higher dislocation density and exhibited higher rate of corrosion.

  6. (f)

    Grain size of about 82 nm was produced by ultrasonic shot peening, it improved the hot corrosion resistance of the superalloy IN718 in the salt mixture SM1 at 700 °C, promoting formation of highly protective layer of Cr2O3.