| Co-electrodeposition of nickel-chromium (NieCr) alloy coating was performed on a copper substrate
from a sulfate-chloride bath. The effect of electrodeposition techniques namely direct (DC) and pulsecurrent (PC) techniques on cathodic efficiency, alloy composition, crystallite size, microhardness,
morphology, and corrosion properties of NieCr alloy coatings was investigated. Results show that PC
electrodeposition generally produces coatings with desirable properties with respect to DC electrodeposition. Chemical composition measured by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and consequently other properties depend on PC parameters including peak current density and duty cycle whose
increase rises Cr content of nickel-base alloy coatings. In contrast, PC frequency decreases the Cr content
of NieCr alloy coatings. When Cr content increases up to 24 wt% the crystallite size falls down to 66 nm.
However, a phase segregation takes place by any further increase of Cr content than 24 wt% and therefore
a new phase gˊ appears in the coatings. The surface morphology of the NieCr coatings also changes from
large spherical granules with a diameter ranging 27e114 nm to smaller size grain by increasing the Cr
content. Above 24%wt. cracks appear on the coating surface. Based on potentiodynamic polarization
method, Ni-11.2 wt % Cr alloy coating exhibits the highest corrosion resistance in 3.5 wt % NaCl compared
to the other compositions. The corrosion resistance of the alloy coatings is mainly due to the formation of
a passive film which in turn is enhanced by increasing the chromium content in the alloy. However, the
corrosion resistance drops for high chromium NieCr coatings (>24 wt %) owing to the microcracks
developed in the coatings. |