Preparation and characterization of Ni–TiN nanocomposites prefabricated by jet pulse electrodeposition

Abstract

In this report, jet pulse electrodeposition (JPED) was employed to deposit Ni–TiN nanocomposites on mild steel substrates. Effects of jet rate on cross-sectional composition distribution, microstructure, microhardness, and corrosion properties of the obtained nanocomposites were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), microhardness testing, and electrochemistry. Results revealed the presence of high concentrations of Ni (54.7 at. %) and Ti (17.6 at. %) particles across throughout the thickness of composites prepared at 3 m/s. Nanocomposites prepared at 3 m/s exhibited uniform and smooth morphologies, with exiguous grains and an arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) of ∼23.61 nm. Also, nanocomposites prepared at 3 m/s showed smaller nickel grains than those obtained at 1 and 5 m/s. Icorr and Ecorr of Ni–TiN nanocomposites formed at 3 m/s were respectively minimum at 2.093 × 10−2 mA/cm2 and −0.462 V, confirming higher corrosion resistance. The microhardness values of Ni–TiN nanocomposites prepared at jet rates of 1, 3, and 5 m/s were respectively maximum at 751.5, 862.8, and 814.2 HV, respectively.