Effect of Current Density on Microstructure, Mechanical, and Corrosion Behavior of Ni-P-TiO₂ Composite Coating

Afzali Gorouh, Mina; Ebrahimifar, Hadi; Mohsenifar, Farhad

doi:10.30501/acp.2025.536027.1180

Effect of Current Density on Microstructure, Mechanical, and Corrosion Behavior of Ni-P-TiO₂ Composite Coating

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Mina Afzali Gorouh ¹

Hadi Ebrahimifar ²

Farhad Mohsenifar ³

¹ MSc Graduate, Department of Materials Engineering and Metallurgy, Faculty of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran

³ Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Higher Education Complex of Bam, Bam, Kerman, Iran

10.30501/acp.2025.536027.1180

Abstract

Coatings are extensively applied in various industries due to their notable hardness, corrosion resistance, and superior mechanical and chemical properties. One method to enhance their wear resistance is the incorporation of oxide particles, such as TiO₂. In this work, a Ni-P-TiO₂ composite coating was synthesized through electroplating, and the influence of current density during electrodeposition on the microstructure and tribological properties was examined. Coating morphology was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while phase composition and crystallite size were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The microhardness of the samples was measured using a Vickers microhardness apparatus. A pin-on-disc test was employed to evaluate the wear resistance of coated and uncoated samples. Furthermore, corrosion behavior was assessed through potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements in a 3.5% NaCl solution. Results demonstrated that lowering the current density leads to finer crystallites, decreased microhardness, and reduced wear resistance. Potentiodynamic polarization and EIS tests revealed that increasing the electroplating current density diminishes the corrosion resistance of the coatings.

Keywords

Electroplating

Ni-P-TiO₂ Coating

Wear Resistance

Corrosion

Subjects

Coatings

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