Zinc-nickel Alloy Research Articles

Multifunctional zinc-nickel alloy enabling high-performance aqueous zinc ion batteries

Aqueous zinc ion batteries are considered to be the new type of secondary batteries that have the potential to replace lithium-ion batteries as the most widely used in the future due to their green environment, high specific capacity and abundant zinc resources. However, due to the contact between the zinc anode and electrolyte, the generation of by-products and corrosion phenomena are not completely avoided, which can easily lead to problems such as short cycle life and poor electrochemical performance of the battery. In this study, uniform zinc-nickel alloy (ZnNi) was prepared by melting method. The element nickel has excellent corrosion resistance and is widely used to improve the corrosion resistance of metal alloys, so the introduction of nickel effectively enhances the corrosion resistance of ZnNi alloys. In addition, metallic nickel shows strong attraction to Zn2+, which can promote the uniform distribution and deposition of Zn2+ and inhibit the dendrites growth to prolong the battery life. Notably, the ZnNi-assembled symmetric cell exhibited excellent cycling performance compared with the Zn//Zn cell (100 h), with a cycle life of up to 1000 h at 2 mA cm−2. In addition, the capacity retention rate of the ZnNi//MnO2 full cell was still as high as 90.6 % after 1000 cycles. The preparation of the ZnNi alloy anode may provide a new idea for future alloying strategies.

Study on the mechanism of additives affecting corrosion resistance in zinc alloy plating

In the plating process, the addition of additives can improve the quality of the plated layer. Suitable additives can make the plated layer more resistant to corrosion while obtaining a flat and bright plated layer. In this paper, the effects of four types of additives on the corrosion resistance of electroplated zinc–nickel alloy plating were investigated, and the process conditions such as current density and plating time were determined by Hull tank experiments and small tank experiments. The effects of the content of various additives and different additives on the corrosion resistance of the plating layer were investigated, and the optimal additives were the compound combination of BH-A and BH-B at 6 mL/L each. Under the same plating process conditions, the effect of adding suitable additives and not adding additives on the corrosion resistance of the plated layer was investigated. The findings revealed that, in comparison to the plating solution sans additives, the integration of appropriate additives not only enhanced the deposited layer’s corrosion resistance but also led to a decrease in grain size, increased uniformity, density, and achieved a higher degree of flatness. The results indicate that, in contrast to the plating solution without additives, the inclusion of suitable additives not only enhances the corrosion resistance of the resulting plated layer but also generates a smaller grain size, uniformity, density, and higher flatness in the deposited layer.

Effect of complexing agent on iron base zinc-nickel alloy coating

The influence of four complexing agents on corrosion resistance of Zinc-Nickel (Zn-Ni) alloy coating was investigated. The current density and plating time were determined by Hull and rectangular tank experiments. The effects of triethanolamine, potassium sodium tartrate, tetraethylenepentamine and sodium citrate on the properties of iron-based Zn-Ni alloy coatings were studied under the same electroplating process. The surface morphology, structure, elemental composition and corrosion resistance of Fe-base Zn-Ni alloy coatings with different complexing agents were analyzed. The surface and morphology of the coating were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The anticorrosive properties of the coating were evaluated by electrochemical electrode and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The self-corrosion current density of triethanolamine is 2.927e-005A·cm−2, the rate of corrosion is minimal, rendering the material highly resistant to corrosion; the surface remains flat and exhibits a dense texture. The content of potassium, sodium, Zn and Ni in tartrate increased, thus reducing the corrosion resistance and flatness of the coating. The self-corrosion current density was 9.400e-005A·cm−2. The surface was rough and uneven, and there were a large number of large concave and convex defects. The complexing agent enhances the adhesion and corrosion resistance of the coating, improves the optical and mechanical properties of the coating, adjusts the durability and stability of the coating, increases the crystal packing density, increases the coating thickness, improves the adhesion with the substrate interface, and optimizes the uniformity of grain distribution. These factors are the key factors that determine the corrosion behavior of Zn-Ni coatings. In the process of electroplating, the addition of complexing agent can improve the quality of the coating, and suitable complexing agent can obtain smooth and bright coating at the same time, make the corrosion resistance of the coating higher.

Impact of current density, TiO2 NPs, and ultrasonic waves on the physical and friction properties of Ni–Zn–TiO₂

In the present study, a nickel-zinc (Ni–Zn) alloy coating has been selected as the foundational coating, and the formation of a composite Ni–Zn-titanium dioxide (Ni–Zn–TiO2) coating, along with the factors influencing its development, has been thoroughly examined. The influential factors explored in this research encompass applying ultrasonic waves, current density, and incorporating varying concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and a wear test apparatus were utilized to assess the characteristics of these coatings. The findings indicate that the concentration of TiO₂ NPs in the plating bath profoundly impacts the morphology and coating properties. An increased TiO₂ concentration in the plating bath led to a finer morphology. Applying ultrasonic waves during the plating process enhanced the dispersion and finer distribution of NPs within the coating, resulting in improved wear resistance due to the confinement of irregularities. Applying ultrasonic waves up to 60 W improved the properties; however, a reduction in elemental levels was observed when the ultrasonic waves were increased to 120 W. This decrease in elemental levels can be attributed to the high-intensity ultrasonic waves, resulting in diminished wear resistance.

The effect of surface preparation on the nucleation of zinc-nickel alloy electroplated in acidic electrolyte on steel substrate

The effect of surface preparation on the nucleation of zinc-nickel alloy electroplated in acidic electrolyte on steel substrate

The effects of additive agents on zinc and zinc–nickel alloys electrodeposited on steel substrates in acidic electrolytes

The influence of glycine, as a chelating agent, and triblock copolymer mixture of PPG-PEG-PPG and PEG1000, as a suppressor agent, on the deposition mechanisms of zinc and zinc-nickel alloys were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and potentiometric electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (PEIS), using electrolyte solutions of chlorinated acid. Cyclic voltammetry measurements show that the composition of the electrolytic solution affects the voltammogram profiles. Complementary PEIS investigations allowed the electrodeposition mechanisms to be highlighted depending on the composition of the electrolytic solution. The electrodeposition of zinc, in the absence of additives, occurs in a single cathodic wave from the ZnCl3− species, whereas in the presence of glycine, a second more cathodic reduction wave is relative to the Zn(Gly)22+ species. The presence of the PPG-PEG-PPG and PEG1000 triblock copolymer induces a clear inhibition of the zinc reduction. Nevertheless, the zinc electrodeposition follows a three-dimensional instantaneous nucleation. The zinc electroplating mechanism involves a capacitive semi-circle at high frequency and two inductive loops at medium and low frequencies assigned to two adsorbed intermediates onto the substrate whatever the electrolyte composition. The presence of the polymer mixture affects the zinc reduction by increasing the charge-transfer resistance and the adsorption phenomena on the substrate. The electrodeposition of zinc-nickel alloys reveals a single reduction wave, from ZnCl3− and Ni(Gly)2+ species, and multiple anodic signals depending on the electrolytic composition, according to the presence of glycine to chelate the nickel species. The zinc-nickel electroplating was evidenced to be a multiple-step process with a three-dimensional instantaneous nucleation, including intermediate species adsorbed onto the substrate. The equivalent circuit proposed consists of two capacitive half-circles separated by an inductive loop for any electrolytic solution. However, the impedance spectra were affected by the presence of glycine by modifying the inductive loop reflecting the first adsorbed intermediate (Ni(I)ads). The morphology of zinc and zinc-nickel, with a nickel content between 14 and 19 wt%, is affected by the electrolyte composition, however with the same crystal lattice. The preferential orientation of the lattice was shown to depend on the additives present in the solution.

Electrodeposition of Zn-Cr Alloys: A Comparison with Pure Zinc

The electrodeposition of zinc coatings is one of the most common surface treatments for providing corrosion resistance to metallic components. From the thermodynamic point of view, zinc is located in a sweet spot, with its reduction potential being lower than most other common metals, while at the same time being not too susceptible to atmospheric corrosion; overall these features make zinc the ideal candidate for the electroplating of sacrificial coatings for corrosion protection. Owing it to its low cost and scalability, zinc electroplating has cemented itself as a cornerstone process in a variety of industrial sectors in the last decades. [1]While zinc coatings corrosion resistance has proved to be satisfactory in most cases, it could still be improved to operate even in more aggressive environments. For this purpose, electrodeposition of zinc alloys with transition metals from the iron group (Ni, Co, Fe) has proven to be a successful method to enhance zinc coatings corrosion resistance. In particular, zinc-nickel alloys have found the greater success among them, due to improved corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. [2]Zinc-chromium alloys also present a good opportunity to improve coatings performance, thanks to the passivating effect of Cr. In fact, electrodeposited ZnCr alloys with a Cr content up to 10.4% were found to exhibit a corrosion potential shifted by up 150 mV in the anodic direction with respect to the pure zinc counterpart. [3] This shift led to a significant decrease in the coating dissolution rate but was sufficiently small that the layers could still preserve their sacrificial nature towards the underlying steel.In this work, ZnCr coatings are deposited on low carbon steel from an acidic sulfate formulation containing Cr(III) ions at various concentrations. The properties of ZnCr coatings are explored by varying the most common parameters such as current density, composition, and pH. Furthermore, the resulting coatings are characterized through conventional surface analysis techniques such as SEM, EDS, XRD and XRF. Finally, the corrosion resistance performance of the ZnCr coatings is compared to pure Zn coatings to highlight the benefits of the alloy.Bibliography[1] R. Winand, “Electrodeposition of Zinc and Zinc Alloys,” Mod. Electroplat. Fifth Ed., pp. 285–307, Feb. 2011.[2] N. Lotfi, M. Aliofkhazraei, H. Rahmani, and G. B. Darband, “Zinc–Nickel Alloy Electrodeposition: Characterization, Properties, Multilayers and Composites,” Prot. Met. Phys. Chem. Surfaces, vol. 54, no. 6, pp. 1102–1140, Nov. 2018.[3] V. Chakarova, T. Boiadjieva-Scherzer, D. Kovacheva, H. Kronberger, and M. Monev, “Corrosion behaviour of electrodeposited Zn-Cr alloy coatings,” Corros. Sci., vol. 140, pp. 73–78, Aug. 2018.

Hydrogen Permeation Study on Zinc-Nickel Coated Ultra-High Strength Martensitic Steels

Cadmium coatings are conventionally electrodeposited on ultra-high strength steels (UHSS) used in aerospace application to provide corrosion protection. Zinc-nickel alloy coatings are being studied as an alternative to cadmium coatings as the latter exhibits environmental and health concerns. The electrodeposition of zinc-nickel alloy is accompanied by hydrogen evolution reaction, resulting in hydrogen incorporation into the coating and further inward diffusion into the steel substrate. Presence of hydrogen in UHSS leads to hydrogen embrittlement and can be detrimental to the properties. To avoid this, outgassing of the coated parts are carried out.In this work, the diffusion of hydrogen through zinc-nickel coated and uncoated UHSS was investigated using the Kelvin-probe based detection technique. The charging of hydrogen in the samples was carried out using either an electrochemical or hydrogen gas-based charging. A comparative study between the electrochemical and gas-based charging techniques was carried out. The influence of coating morphology on the permeation was studied to understand the influence of morphology on outgassing efficiency. The diffusion coefficients were derived from multi-step permeation measurements performed by varying activity at the entry side. This project has received funding from the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking (JU) under grant agreement No 101007712. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the Clean Sky 2 JU members other than the Union.

Surface Characterization, Mechanical Properties, and Corrosion Behavior of Zn-Ni Alloy Coated Steel Using Electroplating-Hot-Dip Galvanizing

In this study, the processing of zinc-nickel alloys with an electroplated nickel layer as the first layer followed by hot-dip galvanizing on plain carbon steel (St37) is investigated. The effect of the nickel layer and the effect of the immersion time on the alloy layers of the coating obtained by this method are studied. In addition, some properties of the obtained coating, such as the overall thickness, hardness, surface uniformity, coating adhesion strength, and corrosion resistance, were investigated using the optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer analysis, and potentiostat. The results show that the 16-min immersion time is the optimum galvanizing time at which an alloy with a nickel content of 0.11 wt% is formed and that the overall thickness of the galvanized sheet, especially the alloy layers, decreases compared to the pure zinc sheet. In addition, a more ductile, corrosion-resistant, and smoother surface is obtained.

Electrodeposition of zinc-nickel alloys from ethylene glycol-based electrolytes in presence of additives for corrosion protection

In the present work the electrodeposition of zinc-nickel alloys with 15-20 wt.% nickel from non-aqueous solutions based on ethylene glycol is investigated. Potentiostatic deposition conditions are used, which are found to offer optimal coating quality and superior control over composition. In addition, ammonium chloride is evaluated as additive to partially suppress zinc incorporation into the deposit and to enhance layer quality. Layers composition, surface morphology of the deposits and their anticorrosive properties are investigated. The electrochemical characteristics of the Zn-Ni electrolytes are studied using cyclic voltammetry measurements. From the phase composition point view, X-ray diffraction results confirm that a metastable γ phase is present in the as deposited Zn-Ni alloys with nickel content 16-18 wt.%. Corrosion tests show that the barrier behaviour against corrosion of Zn-Ni films electrodeposited from the NH4Cl containing bath is superior in comparison to layers plated from an additive-free bath. The use of the additive enlarges the grains and provides a compact surface structure, which upskills the anticorrosive behaviour of the deposit.

Investigation of Chemical Treatability of Zinc-Nickel Alloy Plating Wastewater

Çeliğin galvanizlenmesi, çelik yüzeyini korozyondan korumak için uzun yıllardır uygulanan önemli bir endüstriyel işlemdir. Çinko-nikel alaşım kaplama, diğer çinko alaşım kaplama teknolojilerine kıyasla daha iyi mekanik özelliklere, daha yüksek korozyon direncine sahip olduğundan birçok endüstride yaygın olarak tercih edilmektedir. Ağır metal kaplama endüstrisi proseslerinde kullanılan çeşitli kimyasallar ve hammaddeler sonucunda bu endüstriden kaynaklanan atıksular ciddi bir çevre sorunu yaratmaktadır. Bu sebeple ağır metal kaplama endüstrisinden kaynaklanan atıksularda çevre üzerinde toksik etkiye sahip olduğu bilinen kirleticiler deşarj limitleriyle sınırlandırılmıştır. Atıksularda ağır metallerin kontrolüne yönelik artan talep, daha etkili ve daha ekonomik arıtma yöntemlerinin araştırılmasına yol açmıştır. Bu çalışmada, Bursa Nilüfer Organize Sanayi Bölgesi içerisinde faaliyet gösteren tesise ait, çinko-nikel kaplama atıksularının Diplexin Zn-07 koagülantı ile arıtılabilirliği incelenmiştir. Yapılan çalışmalar sonucunda atıksuyun pH’ı %48’lik NaOH ile 8,51 değerine getirildiğinde, 0,14 mL Diplexin Zn-07 koagülantının dozlanmasıyla %98,65 çinko giderme verimi, %99,33 nikel giderme verimi elde edilmiştir. 1 m3 atıksuyun arıtılması için kullanılan kimyasalların maliyeti 1,83 Euro olarak hesaplanmıştır.

Corrosion resistance study of Zn-Ni-B4C composite superhydrophobic coatings with hierarchical rough structure

The composite electrodeposition was used to successfully prepare Zn-Ni-B4C composite superhydrophobic plating with single γ-Ni5Zn21 phase and hierarchical micro/nanostructures on Q235 steel. The addition of micron B4C particles promoted the formation of micron protrusion structures and the change of current density promoted the development of hierarchical rough structures. Electroplated plated layers were electrodeposited at a current density of 5 A·dm−2 for 30 min and modified with an ethanol stearate solution to achieve a water contact angle of 159°, exhibiting excellent superhydrophobicity. Simultaneously, the superhydrophobic plating exhibits good anti-corrosion performance, and the corrosion current density of the plating in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution decreased significantly by 1 order of magnitude compared to the zinc-nickel alloy plating. After 96 h of immersion, the anti-corrosion performance was higher than the untreated Zn–Ni alloy plating, and the plating was still superhydrophobic after modification by stearic acid ethanol solution.

Live-current electrodeposition of Nickel on Zinc from modified Watt’s bath

ABSTRACT The zinc-nickel alloy coating has a better combination of corrosion and wear resistance compared to galvanised steel. Electrodeposition of multilayer zinc-nickel alloy coating on steel is an important industrial process. However, in the case of multilayer deposition, the plating of nickel over the zinc layer has an inherent problem owing to the corrosion of zinc in the conventional acidic nickel electrolytes. Conventionally a copper strike layer is introduced over zinc followed by nickel electroplating. The present work aims at understanding the effect of both Ni2+ ion concentration and live currents on the feasibility and quality of Ni deposition on Zn from a modified Watt’s bath such that nickel can be directly deposited on zinc without a copper strike layer. The coating appearance, thickness and roughness are found to be strongly dependent on nickel-iron concentration and the extent of live current which prevent Zn corrosion by offering cathodic protection while simultaneously depositing nickel on zinc.

Effects of nano-SiO2 and trivalent chromium conversion on corrosion resistance of NiZn-plated steel: towards a multilayer coating for steel protection

PurposeThis study aims to enhance to corrosion protection of NiZn-plated steel by electroplating multilayer coating.Design/methodology/approachThe multilayer coating consists of three layers on mild steel substrate, such as Cr3+ chromate conversion layer (CCC), electrodeposited nanosilica zinc-nickel composite layer (ZnNiSi) and electrodeposited zinc-nickel alloy layer (ZnNi). Its morphology, composition and corrosion behaviour were investigated by various methods.FindingsPolarization curves indicated that polarization resistance and corrosion current density of CCC/ZnNiSi/ZnNi/Fe (6.956 kO.cm2; 2.56 µA.cm−2) were two times higher and five times lower than that of ZnNiSi/ZnNi/Fe (3.42 kO.cm2; 12.52 µA.cm−2), respectively. From electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data, charge transfer resistances were 1.344, 2.550 and 2.312 kO.cm2 for ZnNi, ZnNiSi/ZnNi and CCC/ZnNiSi/ZnNi, respectively. Salt spray test indicated that after 48 h, surface of ZnNi and ZnNiSi was covered by white rust, whereas no white rust was observed on surface of CCC/ZnNiSi/ZnNi. After 600 h, there were red rust spots (1% surface coverage) on surface of Zn-Ni, whereas only white rust was observed on both ZnNiSi/ZnNi (100% surface coverage) and CCC/ZnNiSi/ZnNi (10% surface coverage).Originality/valueMultilayer coating enhanced significantly the corrosion protection for steel, as compared to the single-layer coating.

PANi/PPy and PANi Films on ZnNi Alloy Coated Carbon Steel; Electrochemical Syntheses and Corrosion Performances

Zinc–nickel alloy coating (ZnNi) was successfully deposited on carbon steel (CS) applying current density of 47 mAcm-2 with galvanostatic technique. The ZnNi alloy coating image showed that CS metal surface was plated with a blue-grey homogeneous layer. Polyaniline film (PANI) film was synthesized with cyclic voltammetry technique from 0.10 M aniline containing 0.20 M sodium oxalate solution on ZnNi coated carbon steel (CS/ZnNi) electrode surface. And then the synthesis of top PPy film was achieved in pyrrole monomer containing acetonitrile + tetrabutyl ammonium perchlorate medium successfully. After the top PPy synthesis, it was observed that both the PANi homopolymer film and the ZnNi coating continued to exist on the CS surface. The corrosion behaviors of uncoated and coated electrodes were investigated in 3.5% NaCl solution. For this aim, the anodic polarization plots and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique were used. The results showed that the top PPy homopolymer film provided an effective barrier property on CS/ZnNi/PANi electrode and a remarkable anodic protection to substrate for longer exposure time.

Electrodeposition of Zinc–Nickel Alloys from Oxalate–Ammonium Electrolytes

Electrodeposition of Zinc–Nickel Alloys from Oxalate–Ammonium Electrolytes

Catalytic impact of Sm2O3 nanoparticles on the electrodeposition of zinc-nickel alloy

A variety of chemical compounds have been utilized as additives to develop the characteristics and the mechanical properties of electrodeposited zinc-nickel alloy plating. Zinc-nickel alloy plating was electrochemically deposited on a steel substrate from an acidic sulphate bath, containing Sm2O3 nanoparticles. The obtained results showed that the addition of small amounts of Sm2O3 causes a considerable shift in the polarization curve as well as the deposition potential towards greater noble potentials, demonstrating that Sm2O3 has a catalytic impact on Zn2+and Ni2+ reduction. The Ni content in the alloy was found to be 7.07–25.45 wt% depending on the operating conditions. The zinc-nickel alloy deposited electrochemically comprised of two phases, pure zinc, and Ni5Zn21, according to the XRD observations. The Sm2O3 incorporated in the Zn–Ni coating was detected using XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) analysis. The data showed that zinc-nickel alloy coating prepared from an electrolyte containing Sm2O3 had a corrosion resistance higher than that prepared in its absence. On the other hand, the microhardness of zinc-nickel alloy plating was critically enhanced with Sm2O3 in the electroplating solution, it increased from 62.0 kg f mm−2 to 151.00 kg f mm−2. Changing the operating conditions such as temperature, pH, and current density have a considerable impact on the morphology of the zinc-nickel plating.

Electrodeposited nickel–zinc alloy nanostructured electrodes for alkaline electrolyzer

Over the last decade, as a consequence of the global decarbonization process, the interest towards green hydrogen production has drastically increased. In particular a substantial research effort has focused on the efficient and affordable production of carbon-free hydrogen production processes. In this context, the development of more efficient electrolyzers with low-cost electrode/electrocatalyst materials can play a key role. This work, investigates the fabrication of electrodes of nickel-zinc alloys with nanowires morphology cathode for alkaline electrolyzers. Electrodes are obtained by the simple method of template electrosynthesis that is also inexpensive and easily scalable. Through the analysis of the morphological and chemical composition of nanowires, it was found that the nanowires composition is dependent on the concentration of two metals in the deposition solution. Electrocatalytic tests were performed in 30% w/w potassium hydroxide aqueous solution at room temperature. In order to study the electrodes stability, mid-term galvanostatic test was also carried out. All electrochemical tests show that nanowires with about 44.4% of zinc have the best performances. Particularly, at −50 mAcm−2, these electrodes have an overpotential 50 mV lower than pure Ni nanowire. NiZn nanowires show also a good stability over time without noticeable signs of performance decay.

Electrolytic deposition of zinc-nickel alloy coatings with organic addition

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An investigation on corrosion properties of bright Zn‐Ni alloy coated mild steel

AbstractIn the present work, the electrodeposition of Zn–Ni alloy from Sulfate bath was carried out in presence of a novel brightener (CG), the condensation product of Cysteine Hydrochloride and Glutaraldehyde. The corrosion studies were carried out using Electrochemical Impedance spectroscopy and Potentiostatic techniques. They confirmed an increase in corrosion resistance and protection ability of bright zinc–nickel alloy coatings. Surface morphology was studied using SEM, FTIR, and reflectance spectroscopy that revealed fine‐grained nature of Zn‐Ni alloy crystallites. X‐ray diffraction studies were used for phase identification and preferred orientation of Zn–Ni alloy crystallites. The preferred orientation of the Zn‐Ni alloy crystallites along (630) planes was configured for bright appearance of the coating. CG was successful in giving an even, homogeneous, refined, and bright Zn‐Ni alloy deposit.