Effect of deposition temperature on morphology and properties of nickel-based composite coatings

Abstract

In order to further improve the corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel, which is commonly used in petrochemical enterprises, this paper leverages the characteristics of electrochemical deposition, utilizing pulsed-assisted jet electrodeposition technology. The morphology, hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the Ni-SiC composite coatings were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, a Vickers hardness tester, a friction and wear tester and an electrochemical workstation. The results indicate that deposition temperature influences coating properties more significantly than other factors. At a deposition temperature of 40°C, the coating exhibits minimal surface defects and the highest SiC particle content. At this time, the microhardness of the composite coatings reaches 652.85 HV, which is increased by 113.75% compared with the substrate, and the minima of the average friction coefficient and the average wear width are 0.73 and 383.6 μm, respectively, which are 4.13 and 40% lower than those of the substrate. In addition, the corrosion current density and annual corrosion rate of the composite coatings were reduced by 67.01 and 67.13%, respectively, compared to the substrate at this temperature. The study indicates that variations in deposition temperature significantly influence the wear and corrosion resistance of nickel-based composite coatings.