The purpose of the study is to develop a method for obtaining high-quality electrochemical chromium coating using a new type of diamond-containing additive that has significant advantages over traditionally used detonation nanodiamonds (DNA) in the form of aqueous suspensions. Detonation diamond-containing carbon (DDC) obtained by detonation of charges from tetryl was used as an additive. DDC contains 63,0 wt. % DNA and 4.4 wt. % non-combustible impurities. We used standard chromium electrolyte: CrO3 - 250 g/l, H2SO4 – 2,5 g/l, DNA – from 0,2 to 5 g/l, traditional methodologies and algorithm of experimentation. The scope of the study is limited to the creation and application of a specific, easy to handle and prepare formulation with DDC. DDC can be added to the standard chromium electrolyte directly or in the form of freshly prepared aqueous suspension, it is environmentally safe.
The originality of the work lies in the application of a cheap diamond-containing product obtained directly after the explosion of an individual explosive (tetryl) and providing stability of DDC suspensions. An increase in microhardness of wear-resistant chrome coating by 1,5 times (up to 11 GPa) and hard chrome coating by 1,7 times (up to 13,3 GPa) was achieved. The wear resistance of the obtained coatings increased by 1,9 times. Concentration (per pure detonation nanodiamond (DNA)) from 0,63 to 3,15 g/l in the electrolyte (very low).