Pulsed electrodeposition and mechanical properties of Ni-W/SiC nano-composite coatings

Ni-W/SiC nanocomposite coatings were systematically deposited at varying pulse parameters and subsequently characterized using SEM, XRD, TEM for surface morphology, composition and SiC particle/Ni-W matrix interface phase boundary. In addition, mechanical properties of nanocomposite were also evaluated using nanoindentation. Uniform distribution of submicron SiC particles in nanocrystalline Ni-W alloy coatings was obtained using pulsed electrodeposition. The results indicated increase in SiC content of nanocrystalline Ni-W matrix with increase in pulse frequency and decrease in duty cycle. The incorporation of SiC was attributed to pulse current effect at cathode-solution interface leading to changes in pulsating diffusion layer thickness. A simplified mechanism of composite electrodeposition is proposed. The hardness and modulus of nanocomposite varied with SiC content. The variation in mechanical properties was rationalized based on rule of mixture and inverse Hall-Petch effect. [Display omitted] •Pulse parameters influence SiC content of Ni-W/SiC nanocomposite coatings.•Diffusion layer thickness acts as electrochemical mesh to filter oversized SiC particles.•Simplified mechanism of composite electrodeposition is proposed.•Grain size controls mechanical properties of nanocomposite above 5vol.% SiC.