nickel chromium is a corrosion resistant coating that’s widely used in a variety of applications. It’s used to coat steel in environments that would normally corrode the metal, such as salt water and rain. It also helps protect certain stainless steels from abrasion.
Various process technologies are available for the deposition/patterning of nickel chromium, including inert gas shielded arc techniques and pulsed electrodeposition. The latter is the preferred technique for depositing a nickel chromium alloy.
Control of the surface morphology and layering can be achieved by controlling the current density, the Duty Cycle and the Period during the pulsed deposition process. The On Time (t1) and the period have a major influence on the deposited material, with local maxima appearing for periods of less than 2 milliseconds.
Variability of the chromium content can also be controlled by varying the nickel chloride hexahydrate concentration in the electrolyte bath over a range of 5 to 125 g/l. In addition, a wide range of nickel chromium alloys can be deposited using this method, which allows for the development of a unique range of properties for the plated material.
Common applications for the use of a nickel chromium alloy are resistors and wiring, especially those used in pluggable domestic heating appliances. This is due to its low cost, high strength and ductility, resistance to oxidation, and ability to withstand high temperatures.
The corrosion resistance of the nickel chromium alloy is largely due to the formation of a protective scale on the alloy surface. The scale consists of a mixture of nickel oxide and chrome oxide, which form a spinel-like structure.
