The Wear Resistance of Cr-C-Al₂O₃ Composite Deposits Prepared on a Cu Substrate using Cr³⁺-based Plating Baths

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333 Taiwan

^a gfehu@mail.cgu.edu.tw
^b d9822003@stmail.cgu.edu.tw
^* Corresponding author: gfehu@mail.cgu.edu.tw

Abstract

Cr-C-Al₂O₃ deposits with different Al₂O₃ concentrations were successfully prepared on a Cu substrate using Cr³⁺-based electroplating baths. The microstructures of the Cr-C-Al₂O₃ deposits were examined using optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The hardness values, the corrosion and wear resistance of the Cr-C and Cr-C-Al₂O₃ deposited specimens were evaluated. Based on the experimental results, the hardness values of the Cr-C-Al₂O₃ deposits increased with increasing Al₂O₃ concentration in the electroplating bath. According to our microstructure study, Al₂O₃ nanoparticles are uniformly distributed within the Cr-C deposits after electroplating in a Cr³⁺-based plating bath. The wear resistance of the Cr-C-deposited specimens could be noticeably improved by adding Al2O3 nanoparticles to the deposit. The Cr-C-Al₂O₃ deposited specimens, which were prepared in a plating bath with an Al₂O₃ concentration of 50 gL^-1, had a relatively high wear resistance compared to the other specimens.