The aim of this study was to optimize the values of current density and carbide concentration in electrodeposition process of Ni-Fe(Si-Ti)C nanocomposite coating on the AISI 304 stainless steel. The optimal current density in each electrolyte was determined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Corrosion behavior and wear resistance of the optimized coatings were examined by TOEFL polarization test in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution and ball-on-disk apparatus, respectively. The values of 30 mA/cm2 and 10 mA/cm2 were obtained to be the optimal current densities for electrolytes containing 6 g/L and 12-18 g/L double carbide, respectively. Electrochemical measurements declared that the corrosion rate decreased from 0.0829×10-5 mA/cm2 to 0.0208×10-5 mA/cm2 with increasing the concentration of carbide in the electrolyte from 6 g/L to 18 g/L. Moreover, the friction coefficient of the substrate was found to be significantly greater than that of the coated samples.
Ni-Fe(Si-Ti)C nanocomposite was electrodeposited on AISI 304 stainless steel under different current densities and concentrations of carbide.
The hardness of the coating was increased from 680 to 855 Vickers and the corrosion rate decreased from 0.0829×10-5 mA/cm2 to 0.0208×10-5 mA/cm2 in NaCl solution with increasing the concentration of carbide in the electrolyte from 6 to 18 g/L.
Ni-Fe(Si-Ti)C coating could improve the wear and corrosion resistance of stainless steel in salt water.