Electroplating of Metal Matrix Composites by Codeposition of Suspended Particles

Electrodeposition of Metal Matrix Nanocomposites: Improvement of the Chemical Characterization Techniques

“…Due to the large number of published works over the last decades, only some review works are cited regarding the state of the art on this subject (Hovestad & Janssen, 1995;Low et al, 2006;Stojak et al, 2001). Materials are considered nanosized when one of the components dimensions are in the nanometer scale, with typical dimensions smaller than 100 nm.…”

“…These include oxides such as Al 2 O 3 , ZrO 2 , TiO 2 and Cr 2 O 3 or carbides like SiC, WC, TiC or nitrides like Si 3 N 4 (Bahrololoom & Sani 2005;Jung et al, 2009;Srivastava et al, 2010;Krishnaveni et al, 2008;Stroumbouli et al, 2005;Gay et al, 2001).The metals mostly used are copper and nickel (Low el al., 2006) however other metals like zinc, silver and, alloys have been used (Gomes et al, 2005;Gay et al, 2001;Tulio & Carlos 2009;Muller et al, 2002;Tian & Cheng, 2007). The most studied system has been the Ni-SiC due to its potential technological applications (Low et al, 2006;Hovestad & Janssen 1995;Zimmermann et al, 2002;Hou et al, 2002;Garcia et al 2001;Gyftou et al, 2005;Lekka et al, 2005). Therefore, considering the variety of metals, which can be electrodeposited, electrochemical composite deposition enables the production of a wide range of composite materials that compared to the pure metal coatings have improved physical and (electro)chemical properties (Hovestad & Janssen, 2005).…”

“…The most studied system has been the Ni-SiC due to its potential technological applications (Low et al, 2006;Hovestad & Janssen 1995;Zimmermann et al, 2002;Hou et al, 2002;Garcia et al 2001;Gyftou et al, 2005;Lekka et al, 2005). Therefore, considering the variety of metals, which can be electrodeposited, electrochemical composite deposition enables the production of a wide range of composite materials that compared to the pure metal coatings have improved physical and (electro)chemical properties (Hovestad & Janssen, 2005). For example, Cualumina and Ni-alumina composite coatings exhibit ultimate tensile strengths, and lower ductility than pure copper or nickel deposits (Lozano-Morales & Podlaha, 2004).…”

“…The first application of electrochemically deposited composites dates back to the beginning of the twenty century. Sand particles held by a nickel matrix were utilized as anti-slip coatings on ship stairs (Hovestad & Janssen, 2005). During the 1970s and 1980s, investigations were focused on the need to produce coatings with enhanced mechanical, corrosion and tribological properties.…”

“…With the increasing availability of nanoparticles, the interest of the low-cost and lowtemperature composite electroplating is continuously growing, with the major challenge being the achievement of high co-deposition rates and homogenous distribution of the particles in the metallic matrix (Gyftou et al, 2008). Fundamentally, the electrocodeposition process and hence the structure, the morphology and the properties of the composite coatings is affected by the electrodeposition parameters like the electrolysis conditions (composition and agitation of the electrolytic bath, presence of additives, temperature, pH), the electrical profile (Gomes et al, 2005;Fustes et al, 2008) and the particle properties (type, size, shape, surface charge, concentration and dispersion in the bath) (Maurin & Lavanant, 1995;Hovestad & Janssen 1995;Kantepozidou et al, 1996).…”