Composite plating is a method of co-depositing fine particles of metal
lic, non-metallic compound or polymers in the plated layer to improve
material properties, such as wear-resistance, lubrication, or corrosio
n resistance. Bilayer Ni-SiC composite coatings were produced in this
research on the base of a reported study. Before producing bilayer Ni-
SiC composite coatings, effects of the particle size, the particle con
tent, the pH of the electrolyte, the temperature, the current density,
the stirring rate on the amount of SiC deposited in the Ni layer were
investigated. By manipulating the current density and the plating tim
e properly, bilayer Ni-SiC composite coatings were produced and mechan
ical properties of these coatings were evaluated by micro-indentation
hardness tests. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.