| Abstrakt: |
Hard chromium electroplating has been a popular practice for several decades. Carbon Nanotubes are the most prominent materials used during the past few decades. The use of carbon Nanotube has found a rapid spread due to its many characteristics. In this work, the hard chrome plating and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) were mated. Four percentages of MWCNTs were added to the chromium electroplating bath. These percentages are 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2%. The coating bath consisted of 300 g/l of chromic oxide (CrO3), and 3 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) was added as a catalyst. Also, use an electric current of 30 amps/dm2 and a voltage of 6 volts. Several tests were performed for the purpose of characterizing the co-deposit layer. Microstructure test using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the composition of the coating layer evaluated using energy spectrometers, microhardness, and wear resistance testing carried out using Vickers microhardness and universal wear tester respectively. The results of the microscopic examination showed that the addition of MWCNTs to the coating path refined the microstructure of the co-deposit layer. The refining increased with the increase of MWCNTs percentage, and the best percentage was 2%. The results of the EDS show the presence of chromium and carbon in the coating layer. The hardness results indicated that the best hardness was when adding 2% carbon nanotube, where it was 1592 HV0.025. The wear rate improved by increasing the percentage of MWCNTs, and the best was in the sample containing 2%, where it was 2.4 x 10 -11 g/cm [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
