Studies on mechanical properties of ni ic and ni mwcnt nanocomposite coatings developed by pulse reverse electrodeposition

Abstract

The performances of engineering materials and components are highly dependent on their physical, mechanical, tribological, and electrochemical properties. friction coefficient, wear resistance, and fatigue are some of the important properties that determine the robustness of mechanical parts. nanocomposite coatings owing to their superior properties like high microhardness, high wear resistance, and high corrosion resistance have received much attention from the industrial sector. electrodeposition process is a well-known versatile method to implement metallic coatings using different metals on metal matrix composites and nanocomposite coatings. it is an economic method. the ease of operation in this process is that the electrodeposition parameters could be very well controlled and applied in different combinations and at various levels. in electrodeposition process, either one of two kinds of current direct current or reverse current - can be applied. direct current (dc) electrodeposition method is simple to carry out deposition of pure metals, alloys, and their composites. however, in recent years, many researchers have focused on electroplating through pulse reverse current electrodeposition method. in pulse reverse current electrodeposition process, the amount of nanoparticles deposited on the coating is higher than that amount deposited in direct current electrodeposition method. furthermore pulse reverse current electrodeposition process produces considerable improvement in the microstructure, mechanical, and corrosion-resistance properties of the nanocomposite coating. in the present research, ni-sic and ni-mwcnt nanocomposite coatings on aisi 304 stainless steel substrate and ni-mwcnt nanocomposite coating on cast iron piston ring specimen were fabricated through pulse reverse electrodeposition method. nature of electrodeposition, dissolution behaviour, elemental composition, and surface morphology of the fabricated coatings were studied through field emission scanning electron microscope (fe-sem), ener