Surface hardness measurement of NiP-plated AA7050

This paper is concerned with the surface hardness measurement of NiP-coated AA7050 using different loads from 10 to 100 g. The surface hardness was observed to increase from 180 to 600 H_v with increasing NiP layer thickness, depending on the load applied for indentation. When NiP coating thickness is thinner than 2 ㎛, the surface hardness of NiP-coated AA7050 was mainly determined by AA7050 substrate, while it was significantly increased by NiP coating layer when NiP coating thickness is thicker than 2 ㎛. Hardness of AA7050 substrate itself was not dependent on the applied load but the hardness of NiP-coated AA7050 was largely influenced by the load applied for indentation. The largest difference of hardness between 10 g and 100g of applied loads, was obtained at the NiP thickness of about 8 ㎛ above which the measured hardness at 10 g reached a maximum value of about 600 H_v. It was also observed that indentation-induced plastic deformation next to the indented zone occurs when NiP layer is 5.64 times thicker than the depth of impression formed by indentation.