
Journal of Minerals & Materials Characterization & Engineering, Vol. 10, No.13, pp.1255-1262, 2011
jmmce.org Printed in the USA. All rights reserved
1255
Effect of Som e Plating Variables on Zinc Coate d
Low Carbon Steel S ubstrates
Bamidele M. Durodola1, Joseph A.O. Olugbuyiro1
1Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Technology;
Covenant University, Ota, Ogun state, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author: olugbuyiro@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This work examined the effect of plating variables on zinc coated low carbon steel substrates.
The electrodeposition of steel substrates was carried out in zinc electrolyte bath. Time, voltage,
distance from the anode to the cathode and the immersion depth served as plating variables. The
results showed that weight gained increases as the plating time increases for the constant depth
of immersion while the weight gained per unit time by varying immersion depth is irregular.
Also, the study demonstrated that sample plated for 20 minutes; 20cm from the anode, 45cm
depth of immersion at 0.8V exhibited the best plating properties with homogeneity of diffuse
plating efficiency.
Keywor d s: Variables, Zinc-coated low carbon steel substrates, Depth of immersion,
Electrodeposition
1. INTRODUCTIO N
The use of materials has encountered increase number of stresses brought about by recent
technology. Both the use and the stresses have probabl y grown at a greater rate than the number
of materials that can be used to meet them. This is particularly true for structural materials which
are almost entirely metallic1. Combination of stresses such as wear (caused by friction),
corrosion (due to chemical) and high temperature have imposed restriction on the use of metallic
materials.
However, in view of these negative effects, many new alloys have been produced with improved
properties to subdue the negative effects posed by different environmen t2. But little is the
protection that can be afforded by this means alone. Chemical attack occurs mostly in marine
environment such as when ambient oxygen, droplets of sea salt and impurities in the fuel
combine to form molten sodium which attack the metallic turbine blades, ship bodies and
submarines3. Thus, there is increasing fear that someday coating of metals will be subdued by
these interacting stresses if nothing is done to forestall such occurrences. Therefore, the present