Corrosion Properties of electrodeposited Nickel-Chromium alloy coatings on cold rolled steel substrate

RIP2025-00122: The electrodeposition of a nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr) alloy coating was carried out on cold-rolled steel (CRS) substrates using a chloride bath. The study investigated the effect of the DC/pulse current electrodeposition technique on the alloy's composition, crystallite size, microhardness, morphology, and corrosion properties. The coatings were deposited with varying current densities and Cr content to comprehensively assess their tribological and corrosion characteristics. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic polarization studies demonstrated that the corrosion rate and resistance of the Ni-Cr alloy varied with the chromium content under exposure to an aggressive environment (3.5 wt% NaCl solution). The enhanced corrosion resistance of the alloy coatings was attributed to the formation of a passive film, primarily influenced by the increasing chromium content. Chromium’s presence appeared to contribute to the formation of sacrificial materials, potentially inducing the development of semiconductors with capacitive-like behavior. Furthermore, the coefficient of friction (COF) of the Ni-Cr coating was reduced compared to that of pure nickel (Ni) coatings.