In this article, the Ni-TiN coatings deposited on the surface of Q235 steel substrate via a magnetic-assisted electrodeposition approach. The surface morphology, Ti content, phase structure, and corrosion resistance of Ni-TiN coatings were investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a transmission electron microscopy (TEM), an energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS), an X-ray diffraction (XRD) instrument, and electrochemical workstation facility, respectively. SEM images showed that the surface morphology and thickness value of Ni-TiN coatings prepared at 0.7 T were superior to those obtained at 0.3 T and 1.1 T. EDS and adhesion strength results presented that the Ti content and adhesion strength of Ni-TiN coatings was lower than those produced at 0.7 T and 1.1 T. Meanwhile, Ni-TiN coatings prepared at 0.7 T possessed the highest hardness of 817.3 Hv. XRD patterns exhibited the nickel diffraction peaks of the Ni-TiN coatings fabricated at 0.7 T were broad and low, demonstrating that the size of nickel grain was fine. In comparison to other two Ni-TiN coatings, the one manufactured at 0.7 T possessed a high corrosion potential and a low corrosion current density, illustrating its outstanding corrosion resistance. Corrosion surface morphology revealed that the obvious corrosion pits emerged on the surface of Ni-TiN coatings deposited at 0.3 T, while the obvious corrosion pits were not appeared on the surface of Ni-TiN coatings manufactured at 0.7 T. In addition, the average corrosive weight loss of Ni-TiN coatings prepared at 0.7 T possessed the lowest of 7.2 mg, indicating the excellent corrosion resistance.

To enhance the anti-corrosion performance of storage tanks, Ni–SiC composites were successfully fabricated on the surface of Q345 steel substrate via the ultrasonic electrodeposition technique. The influence of ultrasonic power on the surface morphology, element content, phase structure, and anti-corrosion performance of Ni–SiC composites were explored utilizing a scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and an electrochemical workstation, respectively. SEM images showed that the Ni–SiC composites obtained at 120 W had a flat, dense surface morphology, with a uniform distribution of SiC nanoparticles (NPs) and a refined size of nickel grains. Meanwhile, the Si content (7.3 wt.%) of Ni–SiC composites prepared at 120 W was obviously higher than those obtained at 0 W (4.8 wt.%) and 60 W (6.1 wt.%). The thicknesses and adhesion force of Ni–SiC composites manufactured at 120 W were the largest of 103.5 μm and 51.2 N, respectively. XRD patterns presented that the diffraction peaks intensity and width of Ni–SiC composites manufactured at 120 W were lower and broader than that of Ni–SiC composites manufactured at 0 W and 60 W. A corrosion test illustrated that the Ni–SiC composites prepared at 120 W had the lowest corrosion current of 3.5 × 10⁻³ mA/cm², the lowest corrosive weight loss (4.2 mg) and corrosion rate (0.06 mg/h), while the corrosion potential was the highest of −0.41 V, which demonstrated the best anti-corrosion performance. In addition, the co-deposition mechanism of SiC NPs and Ni²⁺ ions was also analyzed.

In this article, electrodeposited Ni-Al₂O₃ coatings were fabricated on the surface of a cylinder liner to enhance its corrosion resistance. The effect of current density on the surface morphology, phase structure, and corrosion resistance of the Ni-Al₂O₃ coatings was investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) instrument, and electrochemical workstation, respectively. The observed results show that a dense, flat morphology emerged on the surface of the Ni-Al₂O₃ coatings prepared under a current density of 3.5 A/dm². Furthermore, among three Ni-Al₂O₃ coatings, the Al content of the one prepared under a current density of 3.5 A/dm² was the highest, with a value of 5.4 wt.%. XRD patterns demonstrated that the average nickel grain size of the Ni-Al₂O₃ coatings prepared at 3.5 A/dm² was only 251.6 nm, which was obviously smaller than those deposited under current densities of 2.5 A/dm² and 4.5 A/dm². Meanwhile, the adhesion strength of the Ni-Al₂O₃ coatings prepared under a current density of 3.5 A/dm² was the largest, with a value of 40.9 N. Polarization curves indicated the corrosion potential of the Ni-Al₂O₃ coatings prepared under a current density of 3.5 A/dm² was the highest, with a value of −0.42 V, while the corrosion current density of the coatings fabricated under a current density of 3.5 A/dm² was the lowest, with a value of 2.17 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm². In addition, the corrosive mass loss of Ni-Al₂O₃ coatings manufactured at 3.5 A/dm² was only 2.8 mg, illustrating excellent corrosion resistance. This study could enhance the service life and corrosion resistance of cylinder liners in internal combustion engines.