Microstructural and mechanical characterisation of electroplated nickel matrix composite coatings

Abstract

Metal matrix composite coatings reinforced with hard ceramic particles are attracting growing interest due to their promising mechanical properties. In the present work, a thick nickel coating, containing micrometric Silicon Carbide (SiC) particles, was electro-deposited on a steel substrate from a suspension of SiC in a Watts-type Ni-plating bath. The texture and microstructure of the coating were examined using electron backscatter diffraction combined with energy-dispersive spectroscopy for phase differentiation. The interfacial strength between the Ni matrix and the SiC particles was investigated by nanoscratch experiments. Grid nanoindentation technique coupled with an image correlation-based targeted indentation analysis and a statistical data treatment were employed to quantify mechanical properties of the composite and to map and extract mechanical properties and fractions of each phase. Additional investigation of the mechanical properties of the coating was performed using peak force quantitative nanomechanical mapping experiments.

Nanomechanical Characterization for Cold Spray: From Feedstock to Consolidated Material Properties

“…Beyond the realm of the models proposed by Yan et al, Cao et al, and Kashani et al, Constantinides et al argued in favor of using an indentation depth limit of 10% of the particle size [35]. Though Mercier et al appear to have had success applying the 10% rule identified by Constantinides et al in [36], the validity of Constantinides et al's approach suffers from the same short-comings associated with the models from Cao et al and the limit proposed by Kashani et al As will be subsequently shown, the alternatives to Yan et al's model are beset by regularly overestimating the upper bound of the particle-dominated indentation depth regimes, especially when the modulus of elasticity needs to be measured.…”

Quantitative mapping of high modulus materials at the nanoscale: comparative study between atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation

“…For stiff materials, the widely used method is the Oliver and Pharr model . Several publications prove the capability and sensitivity of the instrumented nanoindentation tests for the determination of the intrinsic mechanical parameters for single materials (Lin et al, 2009), thin films deposited on substrate (Li & Vlassak, 2009) (Bae et al, 2004) (Liu et al, 2015) and composite materials (Ho & Marcolongo, 2005;Ureña et al, 2005;Kossman et al, 2019;Mercier et al, 2019).…”

Electrodeposition of Nickel matrix composite coatings via various Boride particles: A review

“…The inclusion of small particles as the second step increases the surface hardness, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and rising temperature inertness of composite coatings [17]. These characteristics are primarily determined by each matrix phase of a composite coating, as well as the quantity and dispersion of co-deposited grains, which are controlled by some process factors including particle properties, electrolyte composition, and supplied current [18,19].…”