Simultaneous co-deposition of SiC and CNT into the Ni coating

Abstract

Various researches are carried out to investigate the properties of Ni-SiC and Ni-CNT composite coatings. The simultaneous effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) and silicon carbide (SiC) is not addressed in the literature. Hence, Ni-SiC and Ni-SiC-CNT nanocomposite coatings were electrodeposited on aluminium substrate in this paper. Surface hardness and elastic modulus of the coatings were measured by atomic force microscope, and X-ray diffraction technique was used to evaluate the grain size of the coatings. Pin-on-disk wear test was carried out and the frictional surfaces along with the morphology of the coatings were investigated using scanning electron microscope. Both hardness and elastic modulus of the coating increased after CNT was introduced. The results indicate that CNT improved the wear behaviour of the coating by preventing the detachment of strengthening particles from the coating and consequently decreasing its abrasive wear.