Corrosion resistance of Ni/Al2O3 coatings in NaCl solution

Abstract

This paper presents results of a research on the corrosion resistance of composite Ni/Al2O3 coatings electrochemically deposited from Watts baths containing different amounts (0, 20, 100 g dm−3) of Al2O3 particles. Potentiodynamic tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were carried out in a 3% solution of NaCl. The coatings with about 6 wt-% of corundum, deposited from a bath with 100 g dm−3 of a powder, showed the best protective properties. The rate of corrosion of such coatings after 7 days of exposure in the NaCl solution was over two times slower than that of coatings containing 2 wt-% of Al2O3 and six times slower than that of a standard nickel coating. Two equivalent circuits: one consisting of two RC circuits and the other one made up of three RC circuits were used for the analysis of the impedance spectra. Regardless of the presence and amount of the Al2O3 particles in the nickel coating, during first day of exposure in the NaCl solution a layer of nickel oxides and hydroxides forms on the surface of the coatings increasing their corrosion resistance. In the case of coatings with 6 wt-% of Al2O3, the passive layer is least vulnerable to the aggressive action of Cl− ions.