Electrodeposited Composite Coatings

Abstract

Experiments investigating a novel method of preparing composite coatings are described. In this method, the dispersed phase, which may be fibrous or granular, is incorporated into a metallic matrix by suspending the fibres or particles in a plating bath suitable for electroplating the matrix material. Provided that the bath conditions are suitably adjusted, the resultant metallic plating will have the dispersed phase distributed evenly through it. Fibre and particle reinforced coatings have been made in this way and the results of a study of bath parameters on the quality of the coatings are presented. Some properties of particle reinforced coatings, notably alumina-nickel and self-lubricated coatings formed by codepositing graphite powder in a copper matrix, have been evaluated and the results are presented.