Deposition of ceramic nanocomposite coatings by electroplating process: A review of layer-deposition mechanisms and effective parameters on the formation of the coating

Abstract

Nowadays, the demand for the metal matrix composites for various applications such as aerospace and defense industries, chemical industries and fluid transfer facilities and so on has increased in order to cope with severe environmental conditions and service stresses. Electroplating technique is one of the suitable methods that has been considered by researchers in the past decade due to its simplicity, low cost and low temperature of the process, easy access to the nanoscale structure as well as the production of high-density and porosity-free coatings. Electroplating is a low temperature process that is used as an economical method to develop nanocomposite coatings in one step without secondary operation. In the process of electroplating, various factors including bath parameters such as pH, concentration of different additives, concentration of different lubricants, temperature as well as process parameters such as current density, frequency of applied current and stirring speed of the bath on morphology, roughness, co-precipitation of nanoparticles and microhardness of coatings, as well as wear and corrosion behavior of nanocomposite coatings in direct and pulsed current conditions are of great importance. Therefore, in this research, the mechanisms and factors affecting the formation of the film and coating by electroplating process have been studied.