Effect of Rare Earth Element La on Corrosion Resistance of Powder Zinc Coating: Experiment and First Principle Calculation

Using a combination of first-principles calculations and experimental studies to study the effect of La on the corrosion resistance of Powder sherardizing layer in metal structures. Compared to other sherardizing rare earth elements (Re), La has better adsorption with the iron matrix and has the lowest binding energy on the adsorption surface (111) of the Fe matrix. Therefore, the rare earth element La is added to the powder sherardizing process for the rare earth chemical heat treatment to reduce the defects of the powder sherardizing faults formed, improve the surface uniformity and the quality of the permeation layer. On the basis of calculation, La element was added in the process of powder sherardizing, and the corrosion performance of the formed powder galvanizing layer was studied. After alternating salt spray experiments, the degree of corrosion of the layer is relatively small and the corrosion products are predominantly layered and spherical. Electrochemical tests of the layer show that the corrosion resistance of the layer after the rare earth chemical heat treatment has improved.