Corrosion and scaling
phenomena often appear simultaneously and
act synergistically in geothermal water system. We prepared the nano-ZrO2–TiO2 composite coatings on the AISI type
304 stainless steel with the chemical liquid phase deposition method.
Surface morphology, crystal form, and chemical elements of the coatings
were investigated with field emission scanning electron microscopy,
energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyzer, X-ray diffraction,
and thermal gravimetric/differential thermal analyses instruments,
respectively. Corrosion behaviors and scale properties were tested
by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
measurements in the simulated geothermal water at 50 °C. The
results reveal that the anticorrosion performance of the ZrO2–TiO2 composite coating is markedly improved compared
to the austenitic stainless steels. A pitting corrosion and scale
deposition mechanism was proposed for the ZrO2–TiO2 composite coating in the simulated geothermal water. These
findings have potential implication for the protection of the austenitic
stainless steel against the geothermal water corrosion.