Analysis of Nickel and Chrome Plating Temperature on Corrosion Rate of Steel in Seawater Environment

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of Nickel and Chrome plating on ST 40 steel on corrosion resistance in a seawater environment. Several temperature variations were carried out during the chrome plating process, precisely at room temperature and 40℃, with a processing time of 5 seconds each and a voltage of 5 Volts. The Nickel plating was conducted with predetermined variables obtained from the initial research to achieve the most optimal results, especially the thickness of the plating formed. This process involves a temperature setting of 40℃, a processing time of 10 and 30 minutes, and a voltage of 5 Volts. To evaluate the results of this study, the corrosion testing was carried out using seawater corrosion media from 2 different beaches with 2.98% and 3.18% NaCl concentrations. In addition, microstructure testing is also conducted to determine changes in the structure of the base material after undergoing plating, and an optical microscope can be used to determine the thickness of the Nickel and Chrome layers. With Chrome plating at 40℃, the corrosion rate decreases compared to uncoated material in various seawater environments. The results emphasize that the plating process with the correct treatment can improve the corrosion resistance of steel, especially in seawater environments.