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

Abstract

In the present study two types of oxide ceramic particles In 2 O 3 (2.0 g/L) and WO 3 (4.0 g/L) were reinforced into the Ni-Fe alloy matrix by electro-codeposition for the first time. Despite lower concentration in the bath solution, incorporation of In 2 O 3 particles was higher (up to 5.5 wt%) as compared to the WO 3 particles (up to ∼3.0 wt%). Coatings obtained under optimum condition show permalloy composition (80 wt% Ni-20 wt% Fe) between the range of current density 3.0-5.0 A dm −2 . The coatings were characterized by XRD, FESEM, EDAX, TEM and AFM. The effect of incorporation of these oxide particles and current density on the structure and properties of the nanocomposite coatings was investigated. XRD and TEM studies showed fcc lattice of the matrix with preferred orientation along (111) plane but the relative texture coefficient along (111) plane decreases with increasing current density. Dominance of In 2 O 3 particles on the surface morphology of the coatings was also observed. However, results showed that electrical resistivity, corrosion resistance and microhardness (up to 1025 Hv) of the Ni-Fe/In 2 O 3 -WO 3 nanocomposite were found between those for the Ni-Fe/In 2 O 3 and Ni-Fe/WO 3 nanocomposite coatings. Magnetic studies revealed the soft magnetic nature of the nanocomposite coatings.