Effect of Magnetic Field on Corrosion Performance of Ni–Co Alloy Coatings

Abstract

The corrosion protection efficacy of Ni–Co alloy coatings was tried to improve by magnetoelectrodeposition (MED) approach. The magnetic field of varying strength (B) was applied in perpendicular and parallel to the direction of diffusion of metal ions, simultaneously to the process of deposition. The corrosion behaviour of the deposited coatings was studied through electrochemical DC method and results revealed that Magneto-electrodeposited (MED) Ni–Co alloys coatings were found to be more corrosion resistant than their conventionally electrodeposited (ED) counterparts. Moreover, the effect of magnetic field is more pronounced in perpendicular field direction and was explained by Lorentz force. Under optimal condition, MED Ni–Co alloy coating obtained at a magnetic field intensity of B = 0.3 T (Perpendicular) was found to be less prone to corrosion than its ED alloy (B = 0 T) counterpart. The increased limiting current density (iL) of Co2+ ions in turn increases the corrosion resistant properties of MED Ni–Co alloy coatings. The effect of magnetic field on improved corrosion resistance of the deposited coatings have been investigated in terms of their changed surface morphology, composition, phase structure and surface roughness using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) technique and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) respectively.