Improved Wear And Corrosion Performance Of Electroless Ni–P Coatings On Magnesium Az91d Alloy Using The Taguchi Technique

The current study aims to use the Taguchi optimization method to optimize electroless Ni-P coating conditions in order to improve the wear and corrosion performance of Ni-P coating on magnesium AZ91D alloy substrate. In the electroless Ni-P coating, the bath temperature, nickel sulphate concentration (nickel source), sodium hypophosphite concentration (reducing agent), and pH were chosen as controllable process parameters, while wear volume loss and corrosion rate were considered as performance evaluation attributes. The wear volume loss and corrosion rate of the coatings were evaluated using pin-on-disc wear and salt spray experiments. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, and confirmation experiments were also used to determine the significance of a factor and optimal parameter conditions, and confirmation experiments were also performed in order to verify the optimal test parameter. ANOVA implies that the bath pH significantly impacts the wear and corrosion performance of the electroless Ni-P coating. S/N ratio analysis implies optimum parameter conditions, and the confirmation test also affirms that the optimum test parameter combination results in the least wear volume loss and corrosion rate.