Effect of Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate on the Composition of Electroless Nickel – Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Coatings

Abstract

The influence of a surfactant on the composition of nickel – yttria stabilised zirconia (YSZ) cermet coatings, applied by electroless nickel plating technique was examined. The amphiphilic characteristics of anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), was relied upon for enhanced dispersion of YSZ particles co-deposited for use as anodes in solid oxide fuel cell technology and potential heat absorbing layers in thermal barrier coatings. Optical microscopy was employed to study the correlation between the plating thickness, level of ceramic loading and SDS concentration while the effect of the surfactant and fineness of YSZ particles on the as-deposited coating’s ceramic to metal ratio, was analysed using energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) characterisation technique.