Preparation and characterization of Ni‐Cr nanocomposite coatings containing TiO₂ nanoparticles for corrosion protection

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of TiO₂ nanoparticle content on the corrosion behavior of Ni‐Cr/TiO₂ nanocomposite coatings applied by pulse‐reverse electroplating.

Design/methodology/approach

Ni‐Cr/TiO₂ nanocomposite coatings with various contents of TiO₂ nanoparticles were electrodeposited by pulse‐reverse method from a bath containing TiO₂ nanoparticles to be codeposited and citric acid as the complexing agent. The surface morphology and the composition of coatings were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped by energy dispersive X‐ray system (EDS). The corrosion performance of coatings in the 0.5 M NaCl as a corrosive solution was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods.

Findings

It was found that the surface of Ni‐Cr/TiO₂ nanocomposite coatings showed a finer structure that was more uniform and compact in appearance than was that of Ni‐Cr coatings. The incorporation of TiO₂ nanoparticles in the alloy coating matrix improved the corrosion performance of the coatings and the higher content of nanoparticles gave better corrosion resistance.

Originality/value

Applying the Ni‐Cr coatings by the pulse‐reverse plating method eliminated cracks that were a problem in the Ni‐Cr alloy coating structure. Furthermore, the corrosion resistance was improved by the addition of TiO₂ nanoparticles to the alloy matrix. This paper reports the optimum plating conditions that gave the better corrosion performance.

Citation

Bahrami Mousavi, A., Baghery, P., Peikari, M. and Rashed, G. (2012), "Preparation and characterization of Ni‐Cr nanocomposite coatings containing TiO₂ nanoparticles for corrosion protection", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 59 No. 6, pp. 279-284. https://doi.org/10.1108/00035591211274389