| This work is a report on the study of hardness characteristics of Nickel and Cobalt thin films with and without chromium powder. The coatings are prepared by electrodeposition or electroless deposition [1]. The dispersed phase was Cr particles in a concentration of 50 to 100 mg/l added in the electrolyte, magnetically stirred in 400 rev./min.-1 for a few minutes then stopped for a certain period of time. Purpose of this is to let bigger particles settle down on the bottom and only the finest particles floating in the bath evenly.; It is shown that many factors contribute to the quality of the obtained coatings [2]. Thus for instance, the effects of Cr particles on the hardness depend on the deposition conditions.; In this work, the chemical composition of the coatings was studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results obtained showed that the dispersed Cr particles were incorporated in the coatings. Mechanical properties of the layers were investigated and revealed different results. For Nickel, the addition of Chromium particles lowered the hardness of the coating; while for Cobalt, the hardness was enhanced significantly. |
