ELECTRODEPOSITION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AL2O3-CU(SN), CAF2-CU(SN) AND TALC-CU(SN) ELECTROCOMPOSITE COATINGS

Electrocomposite coatings consisting of Al2O3, CaF2, talc particles an d copper-tin alloy were prepared by means of the conventional electrod eposition technique. The effects of cathode current density, particle concentration in the bath and stir rate on the volume percentage of pa rticles V-p in the composite coatings were investigated. It was shown that current density, effective particle concentration in the plating solution instead of particle concentration in the bath and stir rate s trongly affected V-p. The internal stress of composite coatings was in fluenced by current density and particle content. The presence of part icles greatly improved the hardness and wear resistance of composite c oatings. The results of the present studies revealed that internal str ess, hardness, wear resistance, and the relationship between V-p and c urrent density, particle concentration in the bath and stir rate were dependent on the nature of incorporated particles. (C) 1998 Elsevier S cience S.A.