Journal of The Electrochemical Society · 2014 · 17 citations · 22 references
Natural SciencesMaterials EngineeringMaterials ScienceNanomaterialsSurface EngineeringSurface ScienceCoatingsCorrosion ResistanceCorrosion-resistant MaterialsMetal Oxide NanomaterialsNanocompositesSurface CoatingsCorrosion Resistance MaterialsElectrical Conductivity EnhancementElectrical ResistivityElectrical Resistivity AnalysisNanocomposite CoatingsNanostructured Surface CoatingsWear Resistance EnhancementWear Resistance Of Nanomaterials
Gold coatings are widely used in many fields for their shining color, excellent corrosion resistance, and electrical conductivity. However, they are not mechanically strong with low wear resistance. In this paper, we have prepared nano-composite Au-Ni-TiO2 coatings by our newly developed sol-enhanced electroplating method. In order to obtain the optimal mechanical properties, a systematic study of Au-Ni-x TiO2 coatings with different sol concentrations (x is the sol doping concentration from 0 to 25 mmol/L) has been conducted. It was found that nano-particles (3-12 nm) of TiO2 were highly dispersed in the coating matrix. The mechanical properties of sol-enhanced nano-composite coating were significantly increased. The nano-hardness of the coatings was improved from 2.55 ± 0.13 GPa to 3.20 ± 0.15 GPa. Consequently, the scratch resistance and wear resistance of the sol-enhanced coating were also improved significantly. Meanwhile, the electrical resistivity of the sol-enhanced coatings keeps a same level as the pure Au-Ni coatings.
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