Effect of Al2O3 Ceramic Particles on Corrosion Behaviour and Tribological Properties of Nickel Composite Coatings

Abstract

The paper presents a study on corrosion behaviour and tribological properties of nickel composite coatings deposited by electrochemical method on aluminium alloy from 2xxx series (AlCu4MgSi). The nickel composite coatings were produced in a Watts bath of the following chemical composition: NiSO4·7H2O 150 g/l, NiCl2·6H2O 30 g/l, H3BO3 30 g/l with the addition of saccharin in an amount of 2 g/l. As hard ceramic dispersed particles embedded in the coating, alumina (Al2O3) was used in an amount of 12,5; 25; 50 and 75 g/l. Coatings were produced using cathodic current density of 6 A/dm2, bath temperature of 60°C, pH 4, and the time 60 minutes. The electroplating bath was stirred with a mechanical stirrer (350 rpm). The results obtained were compared with a nickel coating deposited without the ceramic particles. It was found that the presence of Al2O3 increases the wear resistance of composite coatings, but does not significantly improve the corrosion properties.