Fabrication and characterization of electro-codeposited Ni/Zr-silicate composite coating

Ni–Zr-silicate (Ni–zircon) composite coating was electro-deposited on mild steel using Watt's nickel bath. Fine (5–10 μm) and coarse (40–60 μm) zircon particles were used. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of zircon addition to the electrolyte on the hardness and wear resistance properties of composite coatings. The results obtained in this study indicated that the codeposition of reinforced particles of zircon to Watt's nickel bath improved the hardness and wear resistance of mild steel samples compared with zircon free nickel bath. On the other hand, microstructure of Ni matrix was changed by the addition of the hard Zr-Silicate particles. It is confirmed that the wear resistance of codeposited layer increases with addition of 25 g/l of large Zr-silicate particles. Moreover, wear resistance increases as the amount of fine zircon particles (5–10 μm) increases.