Influence of electro-co-deposition parameters on nano-TiO2 inclusion into nickel matrix and properties characterization of nanocomposite coatings obtained

In this paper Ni/TiO2 nanocomposite coatings with various contents of TiO2 nanoparticles (diameter size of ~10 nm) were successfully obtained by electrodeposition from a nickel electrolyte in which the titania nanoparticles were suspended. The surface morphology of nanocomposite coatings was characterized by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composition of coatings and the incorporation percentage of TiO2 nanoparticles in the Ni matrix were studied and estimated by using energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). X-ray diffractometer (XRD) has been applied in order to investigate the phase structure as well as the corresponding relative texture coefficients of the nanocomposite coatings. The electrodeposited nanocomposite coatings obtained were evaluated for their thicknesses, roughness, nanohardness and wear behavior under reciprocating sliding conditions in a ball-on-disc configuration. The results show that the concentration of nano-TiO2 particles added in the electrolyte affects the inclusion percentage of titania into nanocomposite coatings, as well as the corresponding relative texture coefficients, the roughness and thickness indicating an increasing tendency with the increasing concentration of nano-TiO2 concentration in electrolyte. By increasing the amount of TiO2 nanoparticles in the electrolyte their incorporation into nickel matrix also increases as well as the nano hardness and the wear resistance of Ni/nano-TiO2 composite coatings.