Corrosion Resistance and Hardness Enhancement of 316L Stainless Steel Using Laser-Deposited Reduced Graphene Oxide/Boron Carbide/Titanium Carbide Composite Coating

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Roghani 1
Mohammad Khosravi 2
Yadollah Yaghoubinezhad 3
1 M.Sc, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Birjand University of Technology, Birjand, Iran
2 Assistant professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Birjand University of Technology, Birjand, Iran
3 Associate professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Birjand University of Technology, Birjand, Iran
10.22034/stme.2025.540373.1157
Abstract
In this study, a composite coating based on titanium (Ti), boron carbide (B₄C), and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was applied on AISI 316L stainless steel substrate using laser cladding. Coatings with varying RGO content (0.5, 1, and 3 wt.%) were prepared and the surface properties, including corrosion resistance and hardness, were systematically evaluated. The results demonstrated that the Ti + B₄C + 1 wt.% RGO coating exhibited optimal performance, increasing corrosion resistance by a factor of 21 and surface hardness by a factor of 2.15 compared to the uncoated 316L substrate. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) revealed uniform dispersion of RGO nanosheets across the surface along with in-situ formation of titanium carbide (TiC) phases. The coating thickness ranged from 37.2 to 545.2 µm. The primary phases identified were TiC, TiB₂, and RGO. These findings highlight the potential of this hybrid coating to extend the application range of 316L stainless steel in corrosive and high-wear environments.
Keywords
Reduced Ggraphene Oxide
Titanium
Boron Carbide
Laser Cladding
Corrosion Resistance
316L Stainless Steel
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 10 August 2025
  • Revise Date 18 November 2025
  • Accept Date 20 December 2025
  • First Publish Date 20 December 2025
  • Publish Date 23 July 2026