Characterization of Titania (TiO2) Modified Component as an Electroless Nickel Composite Plating on Mild Steel

This study investigates the development and characterization of a titania (TiO₂)-modified electroless nickel (Ni) composite coating plating on mild steel substrates to enhance surface hardness and corrosion resistance. A novel aspect of this work is the incorporation of Ariel detergent as a surfactant to improve TiO₂ nanoparticle dispersion, wetting, and coating adhesion within the nickel matrix. Electroless deposition was carried out using a hot plate heating method, and the coated samples were characterized through weight loss analysis, corrosion resistance testing, Brinell hardness measurements, coating thickness evaluation, and positive material identification (PMI). The results show that the sample containing 3.5 g TiO₂ and 0.5 g Ariel detergent exhibited the lowest weight loss (0.014 g) and a significantly reduced corrosion rate (2.13 × 10⁻⁵ mpy) compared to the uncoated control (0.06 g and 1.28 × 10⁻⁴ mpy, respectively). PMI confirmed successful incorporation of TiO₂, with 35.03 wt% Ni and 6.69 wt% Ti in the coating. The highest hardness value of 359 HK100 and a maximum coating thickness of 9.63 μm were also recorded for TiO₂-modified samples. Overall, the findings demonstrate that surfactant-assisted TiO₂ incorporation significantly improves the mechanical and corrosion performance of electroless nickel coatings, offering a cost-effective approach for enhancing the durability of mild steel components in saline environments.