Synergistic Effect of Tobacco and Sugarcane Extracts on the Surface Morphology of Electrodeposited Zinc on Mild Steel

• Published in: International journal of electrochemical science 2013-09, Vol.8 (9), p.11058-11071
• Main Author: Loto, Cleophas A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acid chloride; electroplating; steel surface; sugarcane; Synergistic effect; tobacco
• ISSN: 1452-3981; 1452-3981
• DOI: 10.1016/S1452-3981(23)13169-5

Experimental investigations have been performed to determine the synergistic effect of nicotiana tobaccum (tobacco) and saccharum officinarum (sugarcane) extract additives on the electrodeposition of zinc on mild steel in acid chloride solution. The experiments were performed under different plating time, different additive concentrations and fixed pH conditions. Zinc electrodeposition on mild steel was performed using a DC – supply at defined operating parameters. The surface of the plated steel was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) for surface elemental composition analysis. Different surface characteristics were obtained depending upon the concentration of the additive and the plating time. The corrosion resistance of the plated surface was also determined by gravimetric method. The quality of the electroplating of zinc was good as indicated by the microstructural morphology of the plated surface. The electrodeposition process was sensitive to changes in additive concentration and plating time. Any variation in the plating parameter produced an entirely new and different surface crystal morphology.