Optimization of bright zinc-nickel alloy bath for better corrosion resistance

Abstract

Optimization of an acid chloride bath for electrodeposition of smooth Zn-Ni alloy on to mild steel was studied using thiamine hydrochloride (THC) as brightener. The influence of deposition current density, temperature, composition, and corrosion properties of Zn-Ni alloy coatings was investigated. The effect of bath composition and operating parameters on deposits characters like composition, micro-hardness, thickness and adhesions were tested. Under no conditions of current density employed in the present study, the anomalous type of co-deposition has changed to normal type. Electrolytically deposited Zn-Ni alloys were characterized by electrochemical AC and DC techniques. The experimental results revealed that coatings having ? 3.16 wt. % Ni at 3.0 A/dm2 was the most corrosion resistant. The better corrosion resistance at optimal current density was attributed to the formation of n-type semiconductor film at the interface using Mott-Schottky (M-S) analysis. The effect of THC on plating process was investigated through cyclic voltammetry techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies of the coatings showed the presence of ?-Phase with composition of Ni5Zn21, responsible for it extended orrosion resistance. The change in the surface morphology of the coatings, with current density was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). 2010 Indian Institute of Metals.