Synthesis and Performance Evaluation of Pulse Electrodeposited Ni-AlN Nanocomposite Coatings

Abstract EN

This research work presents the microscopic analysis of pulse electrodeposited Ni-AlN nanocomposite coatings using SEM and AFM techniques and their performance evaluation (mechanical and electrochemical) by employing nanoindentation and electrochemical methods.

The Ni-AlN nanocomposite coatings were developed by pulse electrodeposition.

The nickel matrix was reinforced with various amounts of AlN nanoparticles (3, 6, and 9 g/L) to develop Ni-AlN nanocomposite coatings.

The effect of reinforcement concentration on structure, surface morphology, and mechanical and anticorrosion properties was studied.

SEM and AFM analyses indicate that Ni-AlN nanocomposite coatings have dense, homogenous, and well-defined pyramid structure containing uniformly distributed AlN particles.

A decent improvement in the corrosion protection performance is also observed by the addition of AlN particles to the nickel matrix.

Corrosion current was reduced from 2.15 to 1.29 μA cm−2 by increasing the AlN particles concentration from 3 to 9 g/L.

It has been observed that the properties of Ni-AlN nanocomposite coating are sensitive to the concentration of AlN nanoparticles used as reinforcement.