In South Korea, researchers at the Korea Institute of Materials Science have developed a high-resistance carbon coating that shields metal ship components from the aggressive corrosion and wear caused by ammonia fuel. The coating, intended for engines, valves, pumps, and bearings, cuts corrosion current density from 48 to 4 microamperes per square centimeter, a reduction of more than 90 percent.
Ammonia is central to Korea’s green shipping roadmap, but its chemical reactivity undermines conventional marine materials, often triggering oxide breakdown and surface failure. Standard coatings, including nitrides and wet plating, leave behind pores and interface defects that become entry points for corrosion. The new coating, labeled ta-C:Hx, avoids those weaknesses through a redesigned process that stabilizes the surface at both ambient and cryogenic temperatures. The result is a dense carbon layer that resists degradation in direct contact with ammonia fuel.
The research was supported by national science funding and has been published in the journal Carbon. The team is now conducting reliability tests on ship components and preparing for patent applications. With new IMO rules requiring proof of corrosion resistance for ammonia systems, the coating positions Korea to close a critical technical gap in domestic shipbuilding.
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Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
