Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Pulse and Direct Current Electrodeposited Ni-TiO2 Nano Composite Coatings

Ni-$TiO_2$ nano composite coatings were fabricated using pulse current electrodeposition technique at 100 Hz pulse frequency with a constant 50% pulse duty cycles and reference was taken with respect to the direct current (dc) electrodeposition. The properties of the composite coatings were investigated by using SEM, XRD, Wear test and Vicker's microhardness test. Pulse electrodeposited composite has exhibited enhancement of (111), (220), and (311) diffraction lines with an attenuation of (200) line. The results demonstrated that the microhardness of composite coatings under pulse condition was significantly improved than that of pure nickel coating as well as dc electrodeposited Ni-$TiO_2$ composite coatings. Wear tracks have shown the less plastic deformation in pulse plated composite. Coefficient of friction was also found to be lower in pulse plated composite coatings as compared to dc plated composite coatings.