Corrosion and Wear Behavior of Silicon Carbide Ceramic in Deep-sea Service Environment

doi:10.15541/jim20240536

Abstract

Abstract:

Deepwater shaft sealing materials are one of the critical core technologies limiting the advancement of deepwater equipment. Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics, due to their outstanding high modulus, high thermal conductivity, low density, and excellent corrosion resistance, have become an ideal choice for next-generation deep-sea sealing materials. The immense seawater pressure in deep-sea environments causes significant differences in corrosion and wear processes compared to conventional atmospheric pressure conditions. However, research on the corrosion and wear behavior of SiC ceramics in deep-sea environments remains relatively insufficient. In this study, the static pressure of artificial seawater was adjusted to simulate deep-sea conditions at depths ranging from 0 to 5 km. In-situ characterization of the materials’ performance in deep-sea environments was conducted, and the influence of static pressure on their corrosion and wear properties was explored. The results indicated that SiC ceramics exhibited outstanding corrosion resistance in deep-sea environments at depths between 0 and 5 km. After immersion for 200 h, no significant corrosion, oxidation, or seawater salt-related erosion was observed on the material’s surface, and no mass loss occurred. As seawater depth increased, the chemical reaction between SiC and water gradually weakened, further enhancing the corrosion resistance of SiC ceramics. After seawater corrosion, the mechanical properties of SiC ceramics remained stable. Flexural strength of the material decreased by less than 5% after 200 h-corrosion in a 5 km deep-sea environment, and Vickers hardness or fracture toughness changed little. Under seawater lubrication conditions, SiC ceramics exhibited excellent wear resistance, with a wear rate of 2×10^-8-4×10^-8 mm³/(N·m), much lower than that of the paired silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) ceramic material (4×10^-5-1×10^-4 mm³/(N·m)). Notably, as seawater depth increased, both the material’s resistance to water corrosion and the lubricating load-bearing capacity of seawater were significantly enhanced, leading to a decrease in wear rate with increasing depth. In conclusion, SiC ceramics demonstrate significant potential for application in deep-sea sealing technologies.

Key words: silicon carbide, deep sea, corrosion, wear

CLC Number:

TQ174

WANG Lujie, ZHANG Yuxin, LI Tongyang, YU Yuan, REN Pengwei, WANG Jianzhang, TANG Huaguo, YAO Xiumin, HUANG Yihua, LIU Xuejian, QIAO Zhuhui. Corrosion and Wear Behavior of Silicon Carbide Ceramic in Deep-sea Service Environment[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(7): 799-807.

Figures/Tables 10

Table 1 Artificial seawater composition

Composition	Mass concentration/(g·L^-1)
NaCl	24.53
MgCl₂	5.20
Na₂SO₄	4.09
CaCl₂	1.16
KCl	0.695
NaHCO₃	0.201
KBr	0.101
H₃BO₃	0.027
SrCl₂	0.025
NaF	0.003

Fig. 1 Schematic diagram (a) and photo (b) of the deep-sea wear test platform; (c) Photo of sample after corrosion and wear

Fig. 2 XRD patterns of SiC sample and Si3N4 friction pair

Fig. 3 SEM images (a-f) and EDS analyses (a1-f5) of the surface of SiC ceramic before and after corrosion in seawater at different depths (a, a1-a5) Before corrosion; (b, b1-b5) 0 km; (c, c1-c5) 1 km; (d, d1- d5) 2 km; (e, e1-e5) 3 km; (f, f1-f5) 5 km

Fig. 4 XPS spectra of the surface of SiC ceramic after corrosion in seawater at (a, c) 0 and (b, d) 5 km deep sea environments

Fig. 5 Weight (a), Vickers hardness (b), flexural strength (c), and fracture toughness (d) of SiC ceramics before and after corrosion in seawater at different depths

Fig. 6 Wear morphologies (a-d) and corresponding EDS analyses (a1-d5) of SiC ceramics in different deep-sea environments (a, a1-a5) 0 km; (b, b1-b5) 1 km; (c, c1-c5) 2 km; (d, d1-d5) 3 km

Fig. 7 3D wear morphologies of SiC ceramic surface in different deep-sea environments (a) 0 km; (b) 1 km; (c) 2 km; (d) 3 km. Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 8 Friction morphologies of Si3N4 friction pairs in different deep-sea environments (a) 0 km; (b) 1 km; (c) 2 km; (d) 3 km; Insets: diameters of wear traces of Si3N4 friction pairs

Fig. 9 Wear rates of SiC ceramics (a) and Si3N4 friction pairs (b) at different sea depths

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