Nickel Composite Coatings Reinforced Nano SiC Particles

The paper presents the results of the electrodeposition of nickel composite coatings reinforced with the nano size SiC ceramic particles. The type and size of the ceramic particles or organic additives used play a important role during electrodeposition processes. A Watts type galvanic bath with various organic additives was used. These additives were: 2-sulfobenzoic acid imide, dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium salt (DSS), sodium dodecyl sulfate, tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane and hexamethyldisilizane. The nickel composite coating was electrodeposited on a 2xxx aluminum alloy series substrate (EN-AW 2017) with zinc interlayer. The work concerns the determination of the impact of the change in the zeta potential of SiC nanoceramic particles used on properties of composite coatings (wear resistance, corrosion, etc.). The paper characterized the composite nickel coatings on aluminum alloy using SEM techniques, wear resistance tests by TABER method and coating adhesion to the substrate using the “scratch test” method. The corrosion resistance of coatings was also tested using electrochemical methods. The research allowed to determine the effect of SiC nanoceramic particle size on the value of the zeta potential in the model KCl solution.