Effect of texture, grain boundary constitution, and molybdenum partitioning on corrosion and hydrogen permeation behavior of pulse electrodeposited Ni-Mo coatings

Microstructural evolution, electrochemical corrosion and hydrogen permeation in pulse electrodeposited Ni-Mo coatings (2, 4, 8, and 11wt% Mo) were investigated. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization measurements revealed improved corrosion resistance at an optimum Mo content. The corrosion current density i_corr and polarization resistance R_p values obtained were 13.8 μA/cm² and 1745 Ωcm² respectively for pure Ni coating while the i_corr and R_p values obtained were 1.7 μA/cm² and 5406 Ωcm² respectively for Ni-4wt% Mo coating. Further, increase in the Mo content beyond 4 wt% increased the corrosion rate. Nevertheless, corrosion resistance of Ni-Mo coatings was found to be higher than the pure Ni coating. Ni-Mo coatings contained relatively Mo-enriched clusters in a solid solution matrix. The highest corrosion resistance of Ni-4wt% Mo coating was due to lower energy (001) and (111) textures, lower energy grain boundary constitution, and low coating strain. In Ni-4wt% Mo coating, Mo-enriched Ni-Mo nanoclusters inhibited hydrogen passage by providing a torturous path. In contrast, a high fraction of high-angle grain boundaries (compared to pure Ni coating) facilitated hydrogen permeation leading to a similar extent of hydrogen permeation through pure Ni and Ni-4wt% Mo coatings.