A promising perspective in improving corrosion and wear resistance of plain steel through electrodeposition of thick Ni–Mo–W ternary alloy

Abstract

In this study, thick Ni–Mo–W ternary alloy coatings (∼24 μm) with 13–27 wt% Mo and 4–11 wt% W were electrodeposited from an alkaline citrate-ammonia bath using direct current. The effect of current density (20–100 mA/cm2) on the composition, current efficiency, morphology, structure, surface topography, tribological behavior, and corrosion resistance of coatings was investigated. The findings revealed an advantageous induced co-deposition of Mo in an electrolyte containing equimolar Mo and W ions. While increasing the current density decreased the Mo content of the coatings, they always had more Mo than W. Increasing the current density, according to SEM and AFM observations, changed the smooth and nodular morphology of Ni–Mo–W coatings to a relatively rough and cauliflower shape. The microhardness of the produced nanocrystalline solid solution coatings was 3.8–4.9 times higher than that of the plain carbon steel substrate. While the hardest coating (793 Hv) deposited at 100 mA/cm2 had the best wear resistance with a volume loss value of 0.04 mm3, it had the worst corrosion resistance among the coatings with icorr = 4.4 μA/cm2. The least hard coating (607 Hv), deposited at 40 mA/cm2, with the highest wear volume loss value of 0.11 mm3, however, was the most corrosion resistant sample with icorr = 1.9 μA/cm2.