Corrosion protection of mild steel using electroplating by chrome coating

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the protection of mild steel from corrosion in a seawater environment using electroplating. Mild steel samples measuring 1 × 4 × 0.1 cm were prepared, cleaned, and primed before the plating process. 0.2 M potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇) solution was used as the electrolyte for the electroplating process. The steel samples served as the cathode, and platinum electrodes as the anode, under a voltage of 7 V and a current of 1 A for 4 hours. Corrosion resistance was evaluated by measuring the weight loss of uncoated and coated steel samples after immersion in seawater for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The results showed that the uncoated steel samples experienced significant weight loss due to corrosion, with the rate of loss increasing with increasing exposure time. In contrast, the chrome-plated samples showed a significant reduction in corrosion, with plating loss after 24, 48, and 72 hours being approximately 0.0006, 0.0017, and 0.0020 grams, respectively. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the chrome coating in mitigating the impact of the marine environment on the steel. These results indicate that chrome electroplating is an effective method for enhancing the corrosion resistance of low-carbon steel in marine environments. It provides a protective layer that reduces metal loss and extends service life. The study also underscores the importance of controlling the electroplating conditions to achieve homogeneous coatings with high corrosion protection.