Improving corrosion properties of manganese aluminium bronze alloys (MAB-Cu4) through electroless nickel phosphorus coating

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate how electroless nickel-phosphorus-coated Manga-nese Aluminum Bronze (MAB-CU4) alloys react to corrosion in a 0.5 M NaCl environment. Scanning electron microscopy examinations revealed that the coating layer has a cauliflow-er-like structure, and there are some porosities within the coating from the release of H2 gas during the coating's deposition. EDS analysis detected only Ni and P on the coating, while XRD analysis indicated that the coating has an amorphous and nanocrystalline structure. Elec-trochemical corrosion tests showed that the untreated MAB-Cu4 alloy's Ecorr value dropped to -0.47 V in 1000 seconds and then stabilized. Within 200 seconds, the Ni-P-coated MAB-Cu4 alloy's corrosion potential dropped to -0.425 V from -0.412 V. Then, a progressive increase brought the potential value to -0.395V around the 2000th second. Upon examination of the anodic polarisation curve for the Ni-P-coated MAB-Cu4 alloy, it was found that the Ecorr value was lower than that of the untreated alloy (-0.532 V). The Ni-P-coated sample exhibits higher intensity values at low and medium frequencies compared to the untreated sample, indicating that the corrosion mechanism is identical for both samples; however, the Ni-P-coated sample exhibits superior corrosion resistance. Considering the frequent exposure of MAB alloys to corrosive environments, the implementation of an electroless nickel phosphorus coating may potentially improve their resistance to corrosion and extend their operational lifespan.

Keywords

• Bronze alloys
• corrosion
• electroless coatings
• nickelphosphorus
• structural properties.

Ethical Statement

There are no ethical issues with the publication of this manuscript.

References

1. REFERENCES
2. [1] Song, Q.-n., Li, H.-l., Xu, N., Jiang, Z.-y., Zhang, G.-y., Bao, Y.-f., . . . & Qiao, Y.-x. (2023). Selective phase corrosion and cavitation erosion behaviors of variouscopper alloys in 3.5% NaCl solutions with different pH values. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 33(10), 3039–3053. [CrossRef]
3. [2] Song, Q. N., Wang, Y., Wu, Y. Q., Zhu, X. Y., Xu, N., Zhang, G. Y., . . . & Qiao, Y. X. (2023). Effect of pre-corrosion on the cavitation erosion performance of two aluminum bronzes in 3.5% NaCl solution. Materials Today Communications, 37, Article 107265. [CrossRef]
4. [3] Song, Q. N., Wang, Y., Jin, Z. T., Zhang, Y. C., Xu, N., Bao, Y. F., . . . & Zhang, H. L. (2024). Comparison of the corrosion and cavitation erosion behaviors of the cast and surface-modified manganese-aluminum bronzes in sodium chloride solution. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 30, 4310–4321. [CrossRef]
5. [4] Cobo Ocejo, I., Biezma Moraleda, M. V., & Linhardt, P. (2022). Corrosion behavior of heat-treated nickel- aluminum bronze and manganese-aluminum bronze in natural waters. Metals, 12(3), Article 380. [CrossRef]
6. [5] Song, Q. N., Zhang, H. N., Li, H. L., Hong, H., Sun, S. Y., . . . & Qiao, Y. X. (2022). Corrosion and cavitation erosion behaviors of the manganese-aluminum-bronze cladding layer prepared by MIG in 3.5% NaCl solution. Materials Today Communications, 31, Article 103566. [CrossRef]
7. [6] Cobo, I., Biezma‐Moraleda, M. V., & Linhardt, P. (2022). Corrosion evaluation of welded nickel aluminum bronze and manganese aluminum bronze in synthetic sea water. Materials and Corrosion, 73(11), 1788–1799. [CrossRef]
8. [7] Linhardt, P., Biezma, M. V., Strobl, S., & Haubner, R. (2023). Influence of Cavitation in Seawater on the Etching Attack of Manganese-Aluminum-Bronzes. Solid State Phenomena, 341, 25–30. [CrossRef]

9. [8] Mota, N. M., Tavares, S. S. M., do Nascimento, A. M., Zeeman, G., & Biezma-Moraleda, M. V. (2021). Failure analysis of a butterfly valve made with nickel aluminum Bronze (NAB) and manganese aluminum Bronze (MAB). Engineering Failure Analysis, 129, Article 105732. [CrossRef]
10. [9] Lelevic, A., & Walsh, F. C. (2019). Electrodeposition of Ni P alloy coatings: A review. Surface and Coatings Technology, 369, 198–220. [CrossRef]
11. [10] Liu, C., Yin, Y., Li, C., Xu, M., Li, R., & Chen, Q. (2022). Preparation and properties of Ni-P/Bi self-lubricating composite coating on copper alloys. Surface and Coatings Technology, 443, Article 128617. [CrossRef]
12. [11] Shajari, Y., Alizadeh, A., Seyedraoufi, Z. S., Razavi, S. H., & Shamakhi, H. (2019). The effect of heat treatment on wear characteristics of nanostructure Ni–B coating on marine bronze. Materials Research Express, 6(10), Article 105040. [CrossRef]
13. [12] Sahoo, P., & Das, S. K. (2011). Tribology of electroless nickel coatings – A review. Materials & Design, 32(4), 1760–1775. [CrossRef]
14. [13] Avcu, E., Abakay, E., Yıldıran Avcu, Y., .alım, E., G.kalp, İ., Iakovakis, E., . . . & Guney, M. (2023). Corrosion behavior of shot-peened Ti6Al4V alloy produced via pressure-assisted sintering. Coatings, 13(12), Article 2036. [CrossRef]
15. [14] Islam, M., & Shehbaz, T. (2011). Effect of synthesis conditions and post-deposition treatments on composition and structural morphology of medium-phosphorus electroless Ni–P films. Surface and Coatings Technology, 205(19), 4397–4400. [CrossRef]
16. [15] Alizadeh, M., & Dashtestaninejad, M. K. (2016). Fabrication of manganese-aluminum bronze as a shape memory alloy by accumulative roll bonding process. Materials & Design, 111, 263–270. [CrossRef]
17. [16] Ashassi-Sorkhabi, H., & Rafizadeh, S. H. (2004). Effect of coating time and heat treatment on structures and corrosion characteristics of electroless Ni–P alloy deposits. Surface and Coatings Technology, 176(3), 318–326. [CrossRef]
18. [17] Kordijazi, A. (2014). Electrochemical Characteristics of an Optimized Ni-P-Zn Electroless Composite Coating. Advanced Materials Research, 1043, 124–128. [CrossRef]