Abstract

Nanostructured nickel-based composite thin film reinforced with graphite and different SiC nanoparticles

Author(s): Abbas Fahami, Bahman Nasiri-Tabrizi

In this study, nickel- based nanocomposite coatings were prepared from a Watts type electrolyte containing reinforcement’s particles (silicon carbide and graphite) to deposit on steel St-37 substrate. For these purposes, the adding of different SiC concentrations in electrolyte (g/l) affecting on microhardness of nanocomposite coating was investigated to optimize high quality coatingswith appropriatemicrohardness andmorphological features. Based on XRD results, the main peaks in the samples were nickel and SiC phases. Microscopic observations illustrated a cluster like structure which consisted of some fine sphere particles with an average particle size of about 62 nm. The outcomes revealed that the greater amount of SiC in bath solution resulted in much more absorbance of reinforcement particulates into coatings and consequently prepare a harder surface. The hardness of the coatings was also measured and found to be 529 to 630 (Hv) depending on the electrolyte concentrations and the reinforcements weight percentage (wt.%) in the nickel-based thin film. According to the elemental mapping spectra, a homogenous distribution of nickel, silicon and carbon particles was appeared into the nickel-based coatings. Ultimately, the experimental outcomes demonstrated that various bath concentrations had considerable influences on microhardness and morphology properties of the NiSiCGr coatings.