Effect of heat treatment on structure and properties of multilayer Zn-Ni alloy coatings

Composition modulated multilayer alloy (CMMA) coatings of Zn-Ni were electrodeposited galvanostatically on mild steel (MS) for enhanced corrosion protection using single bath technique. Successive layers of Zn-Ni alloys, having alternately different composition were obtained in nanometer scale by making the cathode current to cycle between two values, called cyclic cathode current densities (CCCD’s). The coatings configuration, in terms of compositions and thicknesses were optimized, and their corrosion performances were evaluated in 5 % NaCl by electrochemical methods. The corrosion rates (CR)’s of multilayer alloy coatings were found to decrease drastically (35 times) with increase in number of layers (only up to 300 layers), compared to monolayer alloy deposited from the same bath. Surface study was carried with SEM, while XRD was used to determine metal lattice parameters, texture and phase composition of the coatings. The effect of heat treatment on surface morphology, thickness, hardness and corrosion behaviour of multilayer Zn-Ni alloy coatings were studied. The significant structural modification due to heat treatment is not accompanied by any decrease in corrosion rate. This effect is related to the formation of a less disordered lattice for multilayer Zn-Ni alloy coatings

Electrodeposition and compositional behaviour of Zn-Ni alloy

246-252This paper discusses the optimization of an electroplating bath for smooth and uniform deposition of zinc-nickel alloy on mild steel. Electroplating has been carried out in a chloride bath using glycine and gelatin as additives. The effect of bath conditions and operating parameters on chemical composition, micro-hardness and appearance of the deposit have been studied and discussed. The experimental results reveal that a bright Zn-Ni alloy having about 13.6 %Ni is showing good performance against corrosion. The corrosion resistance of the deposit is found to be characteristic of its %Ni content, and is improved drastically after chrome passivation. The bath follows anomalous codeposition with preferential deposition of Zn over the entire current density range used for the study. The increase of %Ni in the deposit with current density is due to the depletion of more readily depositable Zn²⁺ ions at the cathode. No transition current density, at which the codeposition behaviour changed from the anomalous to normal type, was observed during the study. The increase of %Ni in the deposit at high current density (c.d.) is attributed to high ratio of Ni²⁺/Zn²⁺ in the bath. The effect of temperature on the plating process showed that codeposition of metals on the cathode is diffusion controlled

Development of Nanostructure Multilayer Co-Ni Alloy Coatings for Enhanced Corrosion Protection Analytical & Bioanalytical Electrochemistry

Abstract-Nanostructure multilayer alloy coatings (NMAC) of Co-Ni were developed on copper in layered manner using different current pulses. NMAC of Co-Ni was deposited galvaostatically from acid sulphate bath under different combination of cyclic cathode current densities (CCCD's) and number of layers. Corrosion behaviors of coatings were evaluated in 1 M hydrochloric acid, as representative corrosion medium. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) study revealed that NMAC (Co-Ni) 2.0/4.0/6.0/60/three exhibits~160 times better corrosion resistance than monolayer coating, deposited from same bath for same time. Better corrosion protection was attributed to the increased effect of interface, arising from the exceptional thinness of the layers. As composition of alloys in successive layers were varied, consequent to the deposition current density (c.d.), the change in phase structure of the deposits were observed, confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) study. Layer formation and surface after corrosion tests were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical profilometer, and reasons responsible for better protection were analyzed

Effect of bath composition and operating parameters on deposit character and corrosion behaviour of Zn-Ni alloy

252-258Electrodeposited Zn-Ni alloys are extensively used as protective coatings for steel substrates and hence the studies on the factors which enhance corrosion resistance are of considerable significance. The present work details the optimization of acid chloride bath for bright Zn-Ni alloy over mild steel and study of the parameters which influence Ni content in the deposit. Use of sulphanilic acid and gelatin was found to show significant effect on brightness of the deposit. The effect of molar ratio of Ni⁺²/Zn⁺² in the bath on limiting current density of nickel deposition was emphasized. Under no conditions of bath compositions and operating parameters studied, the change in codeposition behaviour from anomalous to normal type was observed. The wt. %Ni in the deposit was found to be the independent factor of its corrosion resistance. The photomicrograph of electroplates confirmed that superior corrosion resistance is due to good surface morphology. The effect of bath composition, current density (c.d.), pH and temperature on appearance, hardness and corrosion resistance of deposits were studied and discussed. Corrosion behaviour of electroplates has been studied by Tafel's extrapolation method. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis revealed that superior corrosion resistance of Zn-Ni alloy coatings at optimized current density is due to barrier resistance at the interface of deposit and medium. Formation of n-type semiconductor film at the interface was confirmed by Mott-Schottky plot. Addition of small amount of cadmium chloride did not increase corrosion resistance

Development of Zn-Co alloy coatings by pulsed current from chloride bath

581-587Zinc-M (where M = Ni, Co and Fe) alloy is of great interest owing to their better mechanical and corrosion properties compared with pure zinc coatings. Corrosion resistance of Zn-Co alloy coatings can be improved considerably by pulse plating. The paper details the optimization of Zn-Co alloy bath using pulsed current and details the superiority of pulse plating over direct current plating. Electroplating of Zn-Co alloys over mild steel was carried out under different conditions of pulse parameters like duty cycle, frequency and peak current density. The production and properties of the deposits were found to be influenced by pulse parameters employed. Within the ranges studied, the bath follows anomalous codeposition with preferential deposition of less noble zinc. The influence of current density on %wt. of Co in the deposit and cathode current efficiencies was studied. It was observed that the deposit at average current density of 5.0 A.dm⁻², 50% duty cycle and 100 Hz frequency showed excellent corrosion resistance with fine structure. The peak performance of pulse electrodeposit against corrosion was attributed to the change in the surface homogeneity as evidenced by scanning electron microscope (SEM) image. The drastic decrease of corrosion rate in pulse electrodeposit was attributed to the formation of semiconductor films on the surface as supported by impedance spectroscopy signals