Effect of magnetic field on corrosion protection efficacy of Ni-W alloy coatings

High corrosion resistant Ni-W alloy coatings were developed using magnetoelectrodeposition (MED) approach for the protection of mild steel substrates. The conditions for the development of more corrosion resistant MED Ni-W alloy coatings were optimized by inducing a magnetic field (B) during deposition, in terms of intensity and direction. The applied magnetic field was used as a tool to alter the crystallinity, composition and thereby the corrosion resistance of the coatings. It was demonstrated that the corrosion resistance of Ni-W alloy coatings can be improved to many folds of its magnitude by MED approach. Significant increase in corrosion resistance exhibited by MED coatings (under both parallel and perpendicular magnetic field, B) is attributed to the increased W content of the alloy affected by an increase in limiting current density (i(L)). The high corrosion resistance of the MED Ni-W alloy coatings was explained in the light of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effect, responsible for the increased W content, brought about by the enhanced mass transport. The inherent limitations of the bath like low iL and induced type of codeposition which impedes the development of W rich alloy coatings has been successfully resolved by MED method. Drastic improvement in corrosion resistance is ascribed to the basic difference in the process of electrocrystallization and phases formed during MED, confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) study. The results are discussed with greater insight into binary alloy deposition and mass transfer process at cathode/electrolyte interface. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.