Fabrication and characterization of Ni–Fe–P–TiO₂ nanocomposite coatings

Abstract

This study develops the Ni–Fe–P–TiO2 nanocomposite coatings via an electroless deposition process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to determine the coating structures. Hardness and wear tests were conducted to measure the coating’s mechanical performance, and polarization curves were recorded to evaluate the corrosion behavior. The results show that the TiO2 nanoparticles are incorporated into the coatings. The proper addition of TiO2 refines the coating surface morphology without changing the coating phase constituents. The best mechanical and corrosion performance is obtained for the 0.5-g/L modified Ni–Fe–P–TiO2 sample, owing to its compact surface feature and well-dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles.