Currentless Deposition of Niobium-Based Protective Coatings for Application in Molten Salts

A novel method of forming niobium-based coatings by currentless deposition in molten salts was developed. The protective coatings were produced on nickel and various nickel-based alloy substrates. The corrosion resistance of the obtained coatings was tested and characterized in fused niobium- and uranium-containing chloride electrolytes at different temperatures. The method of protecting nickel-based alloys by currentless niobium deposition can be used in industrial technologies of rare earth and refractory metal electrowinning from molten salt baths.