Corrosion resistance of ternary Ni-P based alloys in sulfuric acid solutions

Ni-P based alloy films were prepared by autocatalytic deposition and their structure, chemistry and corrosion behaviors in sulfuric acid solutions were studied as a function of their composition. The as-prepared Ni-based alloys are nanocrystalline, and their grain size decreases with increasing P content. Addition of a third element (W or Mo) influences the observed grain size. At low anodic overpotential Ni-P based alloys present a lower exchange current and lower reactivity than Ni, both improving with increasing P content. Contrary to Ni however, the Ni-P based alloys do not passivate at higher anodic overpotentials. Addition of W to Ni-P alloys can improve their corrosion resistance, while addition of Mo has little or no beneficial effects on corrosion properties. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.