Microstructure and properties of open‐cell Ni–Sn–P alloy foams prepared by electroless plating

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, open‐cell Ni–Sn–P alloy foams were prepared by electroless plating. The influence of tin content on the surface morphology and properties of Ni–Sn–P alloy foams were investigated. The surface structure of Ni–Sn–P alloy foams became more uniform and compact with the increase of Sn content. The X‐ray diffraction result showed that Ni–Sn–P alloy foams gradually transformed from an amorphous structure into crystallization with the increase of heat‐treatment temperature. The introduction of Sn significantly enhanced the corrosion resistance of Ni–P coatings in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, the corrosion current density decreased from 5.022 to 0.805 μA/cm2 and the corrosion potential shifted positively from −0.423 to −0.294 V after adding 5.96 wt% Sn to Ni–P coatings. However, the corrosion resistance of Ni–Sn–P foams was deteriorated after heat treatment. Adding Sn to the Ni–P system slightly weakened the compressive strength of Ni–P binary foams. Nevertheless, significant improvement in the antioxidant performance of Ni–Sn–P alloy foams was indicated by the reduction of the mass change rate in that the mass change rate of Ni–P foams obviously reduced from 5.15% to 0.25% after adding 5.96 wt% Sn.