A comparison study between saccharin and nano-SiC particles influences on the properties of Ni-Co alloy coatings electrodeposited by sediment codeposition technique

Electrodeposition of Ni-Co alloy coatings was carried out in the modified Watts bath using different electrolytes by sediment co-deposition (SCD) technique in order to investigate the influence of saccharin and nano-SiC particles on the coatings. Surface morphology, chemical composition, phase composition, microhardness and corrosion resistance of coatings were studied using SEM, EDX, XRD, microhardness and polarization measurements. Results indicated that using different electrolytes led to changing the surface morphologies of coatings. Electrodeposition in the electrolyte containing saccharin led to varying the preferred orientation of coatings from (111) to (200) compared to Ni-45Co alloy and Ni-Co/SiC nanocomposite coatings. Moreover, Ni-Co/SiC nanocomposite coatings exhibited higher microhardness and corrosion resistance than pure Ni, Ni/Sa (Ni-Saccharin), Ni/SiC, Ni-45Co and Ni-Co/Sa (Ni-Co/Saccharin) coatings. Microhardness of Ni-Co alloy coatings was increased by increasing cobalt content in the coatings. The maximum microhardness value (615 HV) was obtained for nanocomposite coatings electrodeposited at current density of 3A/dm2. The observed properties were discussed based on the structural details.