Fe-based amorphous coatings are typically fabricated by high-velocity oxygen-fuel spraying using industrial raw materials. The bonding mode between the coating particles and the corrosion mechanism of the coating in the chloride-rich environment were studied. The results indicate that some fine crystallites such as α-Fe and Fe₃C tend to precipitate from the amorphous matrix as the kerosene flow rate increases or the travel speed of spraying gun decreases. Moreover, some precipitates of the (Cr, Fe)₂O₃ nanocrystal were detected in the metallurgical interfaces of the amorphous coating. The relationship among the amorphous volume fraction, porosity, and spraying parameters, such as the kerosene flow rate and the travel speed of the spray gun, were established. Due to an oxidation effect during spraying process, atomic diffusion, crystallite precipitation and regional depletion of Cr occur in the area along the pre-deposited side near the metallurgical bonding interface, leading to the initiation of pitting. A model of pitting initiation and expansion of Fe-based amorphous coatings is proposed in this paper.

To protect magnesium alloy surfaces from wear and corrosion, an Fe-based amorphous coating was prepared on WE43 through the Ni60 interlayer by high-velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) spraying. The porosity was ~1%, and the amorphous content exceeded 90%. The wear and corrosion resistance of the composite coating with WC particles wrapped in a Ni layer as the reinforcing phase were compared with that of the completely amorphous coating. The friction coefficient (COF) of the composite coating was 0.3, which is only half of that of the WE43 substrate, and the composite coating exhibited a more stable wear behavior than the completely amorphous coating. The corrosion tendency of the composite coating is lower than that of stainless steel, with a corrosion potential of −0.331 V, and the addition of WC particles did not deteriorate the corrosion resistance considerably. The bonding mechanism of the bonding interface between the amorphous structure and the particles of the reinforcing phase was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Reinforcing particles were confirmed to form metallurgical bonding with the coating. It was found that the Ni layer showed excellent bonding performance in the form of a mixture that is amorphous and nanocrystalline. Therefore, the Fe-based amorphous composite coating on a magnesium alloy surface shows a potential protective effect.