ABSTRACT
System approach interface engineering (SAIE) by means of low-pressure plasma in corrosion protection of metals was first applied on cold-rolled steel (CRS) [1-3]. Unlike aluminum alloys described in the previous chapters, oxides on the surface of steel and iron are less stable than those on aluminum alloys, i.e., iron oxides formed on the surface do not have corrosion protecting capability of iron underneath and hence are more vulnerable for corrosion. On the other hand, the oxides on the surface of steel can be removed by plasma treatment, particularly of (ArþH2) plasma. Hence, SAIE could be performed in totally dry processes. The improvement of corrosion protection by means of environmentally benign process was the motivation for the approach.
