Preparation and characterization of enamel coating on pure titanium as a hydrogen penetration barrier

The enamel coating with a thickness of 90–110 × 10−6 m was prepared on TA1 substrate by spin-coating and enameling to solve the problems of hydrogen isotope penetration for commercial pure titanium TA1. The microstructure and the interfacial morphology of the samples were characterized respectively by X-ray diffraction, optical and scanning electron microscopy. The profiles of main elements at the interface were analyzed by EDS line-scanning. The experimental results indicated that the dense enamel coatings were chemically bonded with TA1 substrate, and possessed better thermal shock resistance and ball-dropping impact properties. It was concluded from the results of hydrogen charging test with Vickers microhardness measurement and deuterium penetration experiments that the as-prepared dense enamel coating exhibited a good barrier effect to hydrogen isotope penetration.

► The enamel coating was prepared by spin-coating and enameling method.
► The dense enamel coatings were chemically bonded with TA1 substrate.
► The coatings possessed better thermal shock resistance property.
► The coatings had excellent ball-dropping impact properties.
► The enamel coating exhibited a good barrier effect to hydrogen isotope penetration.