Structure and corrosion resistance of nickel coatings containing tungsten and silicon powders

Ni + W + Si coatings were prepared by nickel deposition from a bath containing a suspension of tungsten and silicon powders. These coatings were obtained at galvanostatic conditions, at the current density of j_dep = ? 0.100 A cm^? 2 and at the temperature of 338 K. For determination of the influence of phase composition and surface morphology of these coatings on changes in the corrosion resistance, these coatings were modified in an argon atmosphere by thermal treatment at 1373 K during 1 h. A scanning electron microscope was used for surface morphology characterization of the coatings. The chemical composition of the coatings was determined by EDS and phase composition investigations were conducted by X-ray diffraction. It was found that the as-deposited coatings consist of a three-phase structure, i.e., nickel, tungsten and silicon. The phase composition for the Ni + W + Si coatings after thermal treatment is markedly different. The main peaks corresponding to Ni and W coexist with the new phases: NiW, NiWSi and a solid solution of W in Ni.Electrochemical corrosion resistance investigations were carried out in 5 M KOH, using potentiodynamic and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. On the basis of these investigations it was found that the Ni + W + Si coatings after thermal treatment are more corrosion resistant in alkaline solution than the as-deposited coatings. The reasons for this are a reduction in the amount of free nickel and tungsten, the presence of new phases (in particular polymetallic silicides), and a decrease of the active surface area of the coatings after thermal treatment.