EFFECT OF PARTICLES CONCENTRATION AND CURRENT DENSITY ON THE COBALT/HEXAGONAL BORON NITRIDE NANO-COMPOSITE COATINGS PROPERTIES

Metal matrix composite coatings reinforced with nano-particles have attracted scientific and technological interest due to the enhanced properties exhibited by these coatings. cobalt/hexagonal boron nitride nano-composite coatings were prepared by means of the pulse current electroplating from a chloride electrolyte on copper substrates and a comparison was made with the pure cobalt in terms of structure and tribological properties. effects of particles concentration (5-20 gl-1) and current density (50-200 ma cm-2) on the characterization of electroplated coatings were investigated via x-ray diffraction analysis, energy dispersive spectroscopy and vickers micro-hardness. moreover, the tribological behavior was studied using pin-on-disc method. the results showed that cobalt/hexagonal boron nitride nano-composite coatings have higher hardness, wear resistance and lower friction coefficient than pure cobalt and the plating parameters strongly affect the coating’s properties