Microstructure and Properties of Si₃N₄and TiN Nano-Particles Reinforced Electrodeposited Functional Ni-Fe Matrix Nanocomposite

Abstract

Functional Ni-Fe/Si 3 N 4 -TiN nanocomposite coatings were electro-codeposited from sulphamate-N,N-dimethylformamide bath containing dispersed Si 3 N 4 and TiN nano-particles 10 g/L each. The effect of current density on the incorporation of the ceramic particulate and on the properties of the deposits was investigated. The deposited coatings were characterized using various advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Physical properties such as microhardness, corrosion resistance and magnetic property of the composite were evaluated. Results indicated that Si 3 N 4 and TiN both the ceramics has prodigious effect on the microstructure and properties of the coating. Ni-Fe/Si 3 N 4 -TiN coatings showed higher hardness in comparison with the Ni-Fe, Ni-Fe/Si 3 N 4 and Ni-Fe/TiN coatings. Hardness values of the coatings ranged from 650 HV to 773 HV and the coating with maximum hardness was obtained at current density 3.0 A dm -2 . Further, significant influence had been observed on corrosion resistance by the ceramic particles. Magnetic investigations revealed characteristic superparamagnetic behavior of the coatings.Composites or nanocomposites possess unique physical and mechanical properties formed by mixing two or more dissimilar materials at micro or nanoscale. Nanocomposites are used when a combination of properties is needed not found in a single material. 1 Nanocomposite materials offer enormous potential for new applications across aerospace, automotive, electronics, biomedical, reinforced lightweight materials, sensors, batteries, energy conversion and many other industries. 2 Particle reinforced nickel-based alloys/composites have received much interest owing to their superior physical and mechanical properties: better hardness, high strength, and better electrical and anticorrosion properties. Among these, Ni-Fe alloy is of significant interest because of its interesting mechanical, electrical and magnetic properties. Reinforcement of metallic matrix with nano-sized ceramic particles renders it with enhanced strength. 3 Ceramic particles have very high hardness, very high elastic modulus, high thermal expansion, high corrosion resistance, high wear resistance and low density in comparison to metals. Nitride ceramics are often refractory materials, owing to their high lattice energy which reflects the strong attraction of N 3-for the metal cation. TiN and Si 3 N 4 are used as cutting materials and hard coating materials. Due to the large bandgap, most of the nitride ceramics are insulators.Currently, there are several fabrication methods for nano-sized ceramic particulate reinforced metal matrix composites, including milling, sintering, casting, physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, electrodeposition, sol-gel, etc. 2 Among these methods, composite electrodeposition has been identified to be a greener route, 4 continuous, easy to control, attractive for their capability of producing composites wi...

The effect of current density on microstructural homogeneity, hardness, fracture toughness and electrochemical behavior of electrodeposited Cu-0.5Co/WC nano-composite coating

“…The incorporation of nano-sized particles is in uenced by various process parameters, including particle concentration, shape, size, bath composition, additives, pH, and current density. Researchers suggested that the applied current density, particle type, particle concentration, and bath agitation are the main in uencing factors in the co-deposition process [5,6]. The aim of the present work is the production of Cu-Co/WC nanocomposite coating using copper sulfate bath and also speci cation of optimum processing condition.…”

“…Electrochemical deposition has a widespread use in nanotechnology since it can be used to ll three-dimensional features at room temperature with good control of thickness and morphology [1]. During the last few decades, researchers have attempted to improve the properties through electrocodeposition of hard particles such as WC, Al 2 O 3 , SiC, and Si 3 N 4 [2][3][4][5] in various metal matrix materials such as Ni and Cu [2,3]. The copper electroplates are widely used in engineering applications due to their high electrical and thermal conductivity, proper ductility, and required corrosion resistance.…”

Impact of ZrO2reinforcement on the surface roughness, electrical and magnetic properties of the nano-permalloy

“…Ni-Fe alloys, specially nanocrystalline permalloy (80% Ni-20% Fe) have always been of prime importance in industry and technology especially when requiring strong mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, good electrical conductivity, special optical properties and a soft magnetic nature [11][12][13][14][15]. Usually the arithmetic roughness of Ni-Fe alloy surfaces is found to be very high which should be as low as possible for aerodynamic surfaces (for example in wind turbine or on aircraft).…”

Structure and Properties of Dual Oxide Particles Doped Ni-Fe/In2O3-WO3Functional Nanocomposite Coatings

“…15 Although oxide ceramic particle reinforced metal matrix composites have been extensively studied due to their high hardness, wear and corrosion resistance, to the best of our knowledge no comprehensive report is available that includes benefits from two or more oxide ceramic parz E-mail: vijaybs@bhu.ac.in ticles in the Ni-Fe alloy matrix. Interesting results of our previous investigation 16 with mixed nitride ceramic particles in the Ni-Fe alloy matrix encouraged us to extend our study with mixed oxide ceramic particles, particularly, in near permalloy matrix because the permalloy has special position among the Ni-Fe alloys.…”