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In this paper, four kinds of coatings Ni + 30% WC, Ni + 15% WC, Ni, and Co are prepared on EH40 steel by laser cladding technology. Electrochemical experiment tests at a simulating low-temperature (–40°C) environment in 0.5 mol·L−1 hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution and 3.5 wt% NaCl solution were conducted, and the polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) impedance spectrum were obtained. The results show that the Ni + 15% WC coating has the smallest corrosion current and 0.5 mol·L−1 HCl solution and 3.5 wt% NaCl solution have the maximum polarization resistance and impedance arc. Coatings will be treated in a 0.5 mol·L−1 HCl solution and 3.5 wt% NaCl solution at –40°C immersion for 30 days; finally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used for test passivation films of Ni + 15% WC samples and sample surface morphology after corrosion. XPS results show that Fe, Mo, and Ni elements can form metal oxides in the 0.5 mol·L−1 HCl solution, and Cr, Fe, Mo, Ni, and W elements can form metal oxides in the 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. SEM results display that relatively severe corrosion appeared on the substrate near tungsten carbide in a 0.5 mol·L−1 HCl solution, and coating will be corroded form inside of the coating owing to the corrosive solution will penetrate the substrate. In 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, severe corrosion of the substrate has not been observed; however, the binding part has been obviously corroded.

To investigate the corrosion behavior of WC–Co composite coating, plasma transferred arc (PTA) welding was applied to prepare WC–Co coating on hull steel EH40 for achieving good metallurgical bonding. The phases of coatings were mainly composed of WC particles, solid solution γ-Co, Fe3Ni2, SiO2 and Mo2C. After electrochemical test, it can be concluded that Co-based coating with 45% WC content has better corrosion resistance in low temperature marine environment for obtaining denser oxide film. Through X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, the main corrosion products of immersion were Co(OH)2 and Co3O4. These corrosion products aggregate to form a stable corrosion product film, which plays some protective role for the coating. Hard particle WC is also partially oxidized to WO3. The pitting hole of 60% WC is the most serious. Pitting corrosion is easy to occur at the interface defects.