Enhanced Wear Performance of Cu-Carbon Nanotubes Composite Coatings Prepared by Jet Electrodeposition.

Dongdong Ning,Hui Wu,Ao Zhang

doi:10.3390/ma12030392

Abstract

Cu-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite coatings with high CNT content and uniformly distributed CNTs were successfully prepared via jet electrodeposition. Pristine CNTs, without any treatment like acid functionalization, were used. Anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used to increase the wettability of the CNTs and improve the content of incorporated CNTs. With an appropriate SDS concentration (300 mg/L) in the electrolyte, the incorporated CNT content is as high as 2.84 wt %, much higher than the values reported using conventional electrodeposition (0.42–1.05 wt %). The high-content CNTs were uniformly distributed in the composite coating. The surface morphology of this composite coating (2.84 wt % CNTs) was flat due to the uniform electric field in jet electrodeposition. In the wear test a with load of 1 N and sliding speed of 0.02 m/s, the wear rate of this composite coating was 1.3 × 10−2 mg/Nm, 85.4% lower than that of pure Cu. The enhanced wear performance of Cu-CNTs composite coatings can be attributed to high CNT content and flat surface morphology.

Highlights

Metal matrix composites with enhanced second phase in metal matrix show desirable metal properties and significantly improved mechanical properties [1,2,3]
The incorporated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be as high as 2.84 wt %, much higher than that of Cu-CNTs composite coatings prepared by conventional electrodeposition (0.42–1.05 wt %) [14,15,16,21]
The weight loss of the Cu-CNTs composite coatings was measured by a high resolution

Summary

Introduction

Metal matrix composites with enhanced second phase in metal matrix show desirable metal properties and significantly improved mechanical properties [1,2,3]. A simple and feasible method is still required to fabricate Cu-CNTs composite coatings with high CNT content and uniformly distributed CNTs. In contrast to conventional electrodeposition, more of the second phase can reach the cathode surface due to the high speed flow of the electrolyte in jet electrodeposition. A simple and feasible jet electrodeposition method was used to prepare Cu-CNTs composite coatings with high CNT content and uniform CNT distribution. The incorporated CNTs can be as high as 2.84 wt %, much higher than that of Cu-CNTs composite coatings prepared by conventional electrodeposition (0.42–1.05 wt %) [14,15,16,21] This composite coating showed enhanced wear performance due to the high content of self-lubrication CNTs and flat surface morphology

Experimental Procedures

Results and Discussion

Conclusions