Co-deposition of metal films with ceramic nanoparticles on metallic substrates by electrodeposition system

In this research; submicron sized ceramic particles alumina (Al2O3), silicon carbide (SiC) and tungsten carbide (WC) were co-deposited with metals zinc (Zn) and chromium (Cr) via electrodeposition system to fabricate Zn-Al2O3, Cr-SiC and Cr-WC metal matrix composite structures. With this aim, new systems were designed instead of traditional electrodeposition cells and coatings were fabricated in these systems for different electrolyte compositions. These composite coatings were produced under different combinations of system parameters such as current density, pH, temperature, current type and frequency which effect co-deposition directly.Phase identifications of the fabricated composite coatings were performed by Shimadzu-6000 model XRD (X-ray diffractometer) and surface morphologies were investigated using JEOL-JJM 6060 model SEM (scanning electron microscopy) with an EDS (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) system attachment. Nevertheless, mechanical properties of the coatings such as hardness, elestic modulus and % elastic recovery rate were performed under 25 mN applied load by Shimadzu DUH-W201, DUH-W201S model Dynamic Micro-Hardness Tester with a working range 0,1 ? 1961 mN and under 980, 7 mN applied load using Shimadzu HMV-2 model Micro-Hardness Tester with a working range 98,07 mN (HV0,1) - 19.614 N (HV2). It was concluded that ceramic particles Al2O3/SiC/WC were physically absorbed to the cathode surface and made a composite structure with metal Zn/Cr and co-deposition of sub-micron sized ceramic particles with metals via electrodeposition system was strictly successful.