Synthesis, structural and mechanical properties of electroplated nifemo nanocrystalline thin films

Abstract

This study focuses on nano crystalline thin film coating of NiFeMo on the surface of mild steel at three different bath temperatures such as 60°C, 70°C and 80°C by elctrodeposition technique. Surface analysis and elemental compositional analysis of coated thin films have been employed with the help of SEM images, EDAX and XRD patterns. Electrochemical technique has been used to investigate corrosion behaviour on electroplated NiFeMo thin films. SEM analysis confirms that the existence of bright and spherical shaped granules and crack free surface on the coated film. The particle size of coated thin film was calculated using Scherrer formula and it was in the range of few nanometres. XRD study confirms that the film coated at elevated bath temperature has tetragonal structure and the remaining have mixed phase of cubic and HCP structures. Electrochemical studies discloses that all the NiFeMo thin films coated at three different temperatures have better corrosion resistance as compared with NiFe and NiFeW thin films. Among the three different bath temperatures the film coated at 60◦C has better corrosion resistance as 150.17Ω. Based on the obtained structural and corrosion results of the synthesised thin films, they are highly suitable for manufacturing of MEMs and NEMs devices.