Effect of Potassium Sodium Tartrate on Composition and Corrosion Performance of Ni–W Alloy Coatings

Abstract

Abstract: In this communication, the effect of potassium sodium tartrate as complexing agent on the composition, phase structure, surface morphology, and corrosion performance of electrodeposited nickel-tungsten alloy coatings is reported. The deposition conditions were optimized for the best performance of the coatings against corrosion. Ni–W coatings were developed at different current densities and their corrosion behaviour was studied. Compositional data revealed that the noble metal tungsten content of the alloy decreased with growing cathodic current densities. Characteristics responsible for the best anticorrosion performance of Ni–W alloy coatings were compared with those of a citrate bath, earlier reported by the authors and their colleagues. The experimental study in this paper demonstrated an inverse dependency of the W content of Ni–W alloy on a current density, compared to that in a citrate bath. The X-ray diffraction study revealed that anticorrosion performance is driven by the W content of the alloys, not by the current density at which they are deposited. An inverse dependency of the W content on a current density, is discussed in the light of the theory of the mass transfer controlled M-complex ions (where M = W/Ni), associated in the deposition. It is supposed that a decrease/an increase of the W content in a tartrate or a citrate bath with the current density is afforded by a lower limiting current density (i<inf>L</inf>) of the W/Ni-complex ion, depending on the stability of the M-tartrate/citrate complex formed. The experimental results were discussed with the help of different analytical techniques, like scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. © 2021, Allerton Press, Inc.