A route to a more sustainable nickel composite electrodeposit, using turmeric and a new low nickel ion concentration electrolyte

Abstract Electrodeposited nickel composites are often used as protective coatings with many important applications. The filler particles used in these composites can be expensive, requiring energy-intensive production methods to produce, whilst the composites themselves are difficult to recycle. The research aim was to use a sustainable filler particle (the spice turmeric), to produce a more sustainable electrodeposited nickel composite coating and characterise its properties. A new low nickel ion concentration electrolyte (LICE) was developed to prevent agglomeration of the turmeric particles in solution. The pure nickel deposit produced from the LICE electrolyte exhibited analogous hardness and salt spray corrosion rate to that of pure nickel deposits produced from a Watts electrolyte. The incorporation of turmeric into the nickel deposit refined the grain structure, increasing the deposit's hardness to 536 HV, its salt spray corrosion rate to 189 mm y−1 and increasing the water contact angle to 104°. The hardness exhibited by the deposits at a turmeric concentration of 5.0 g/L was equal to or better than many nickel composites reported in the literature.