Investigation of mechanical and corrosion properties of Ni-B/ZrC nanocomposite coatings produced by electrodeposition method

The electrodeposition method can be used to coat metallic or conductive non-metallic materials, providing enhanced properties suitable for various applications. Low-cost and low-conductivity metals such as copper or steel are often coated with harder, more corrosion- and wear-resistant materials like nickel and boron to meet specific performance requirements. This study focuses on Ni-B/ZrC nanocomposite coatings applied on copper substrates, examining the effects of Zirconium carbide (ZrC) and Trimethylamine borane complex (TMAB) content in the electroplating bath on the resulting coating's surface properties. The electrodeposited samples were evaluated in terms of mechanical characterization, surface morphology, and corrosion performance. The highest microhardness value, measured at 1020.4 HV, was received with bath concentrations of 6 g/L TMAB and 4 g/L ZrC. Morphological analysis revealed a decrease in ZrC content on the coating surface as TMAB concentration increased. Additionally, the composite coating with a ZrC concentration of 4 g/L exhibited the best corrosion resistance, reducing the corrosion current by 70% compared to the Ni-B alloy.