Microstructure and micromechanical properties of electrodeposited Zn-Mo coatings on steel

The aim of the work was to characterise the new coating material based on zinc with the addition of molybdenum, electrodeposited on steel substrate from nontoxic, citrate based electrolytes. The surface composition of deposits was ascertained by chemical analysis (WDXRF). The morphology of coatings was studied by SEM. The surface morphology and roughness of Zn-Mo coatings on steel was investigated by AFM. The microhardness and Young modulus were determined by indentation technique, whereas the coating adhesion to the substrate was examined by means of scratch test. The optimal ranges of electrodeposition parameters, enabling the preparation of good quality coatings (i.e. uniform, compact, with good adhesion to the substrate), was specified. The morphology of deposits depends significantly on the content of molybdenum and on the thickness of electrodeposited layer. The microhardness of Zn-Mo coating increases with the increase of molybdenum content up to 3 wt.% and then reaches about 3.5 GPa, which is almost five times that of the value of the microhardness of the Zn coating studied.