Abstract
Anodic interference films were grown on stainless steel by an electrochemical process in a 70 g L−1 CrO3+500 g L−1 H2SO4 solution at temperatures of 25–75°C. The aim of this research was to assess the influence of temperature on characteristics of this coating. The morphology of the films was assessed through atomic force microscopy, the chemical composition was assessed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, while the mechanical characteristics were assessed by resistance to abrasion wear and nanohardness. The roughness of the films grown at 25°C is less than that of the other temperatures. No significant difference regarding the porosity of the films was detected. A chromium hydroxide was observed on the top of the oxide layer grown on stainless steel. The steel coloured at 75°C presented a lesser hardness compared to the samples grown at 25, 35 and 55°C. The wear resistance increased as the temperature of the film's growth rose, which was inversely proportional to the hardness.
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