Diffusion and Bonding Mechanism of Protective γ-Al₂O₃ on FeCrAl Foil for Metallic Three-Way Catalytic Converter

Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), 86400, Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

^* Corresponding author: dafitferiyanto@yahoo.co.id

Abstract

High pollutant level contributed by mobile sources/land transportation that become main problems for the human health. Improving exhaust emission system by improving catalytic converter properties is one of the most effective way to produce healthy air in our environment. It is conducted by two methods i.e. ultrasonic during electroplating (UBDEL) and electroplating process (EL) which are not fully investigated yet as catalytic converter coating process. UBDEL is conducted using sulphamate types electrolyte solution, Frequency of 35 kHz, current of 1.28A, Voltage of 12 V, and various time of 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 minutes. Meanwhile El method is conducted using parameters of current of 1.28A, Voltage of 12 V, stirrer speed of 60 rpm and various time of 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 minutes. Fully γ-Al₂O₃ bonding to the FeCrAl substrate is shown by UBDEL 75 minutes samples proved by SEM images and Ra and Rq are 4.01 μm and 5.64 μm, respectively. Ni present on the FeCrAl substrate as other protective layer generated by Ni electroplating process that will improve thermal stability of FeCrAl at high temperature of 1000 °C. From the results, can summarized that UBDEL technique is promoted as an effective catalytic converter coating technique.