The strength and ductility of microcrystalline and nanocrystalline tungstsen carbide–cobalt (WC–Co) cermets have been evaluated by employing a stored energy Kolsky bar apparatus, high-speed photography and digital image correlation. The test specimens were thin-walled tubular Al7075-T6 substrates 250 μm thick, coated with a 300 μm thick microcrystalline or nanocrystalline WC–Co layer with an av...

Abstract Copper coatings are an important group of decorative-protective materials characterised by high corrosion resistance, excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, which lately gained more significance due to their antimicrobial activity. The main aim the presented research was electrodeposit homogenous copper from non-cyanide electrolyte solution in galvanostatic conditions on steel ...

Zinc-nickel alloys with 8-15% nickel were deposited onto stainless steel for corrosion protection. Alkaline deposition conditions were utilized given that alkaline systems have been found to offer superior substrate coverage which results in better corrosion protection of the metal substrate (stainless steel) compared to acid bath depositions. This method utilizes ammonium hydroxide as the base...

Nickel-Phosphorus (Ni-P) composite coatings were prepared on a poplar veneer surface via a simple electroless nickel (Ni) approach. The substrate deformation, flatness, crystalline structure, and wear resistance of the NiP composite coatings were investigated. The deformation degree of the substrate decreased as the number of deposition steps was increased. The flatness and wear resistance of t...

A new approach to grain boundary engineering (GBE) for high performance nanocrystalline materials, especially those produced by electrodeposition and sputtering, is discussed on the basis of some important findings from recently available results on GBE for nanocrystalline materials. In order to optimize their utility, the beneficial effects of grain boundary microstructures have been seriously...

Treatments with organic surfactants, followed by the deposition of nanocrystalline ceria coatings from aqueous solution, were applied to anodes of solid oxide fuel cells. The cells were then operated in hydrogen/nitrogen fuel streams with H2S contents ranging from 0 to 500 ppm. Two surfactant treatments were studied: immersion in dodecanethiol, and a multi-step conversion of a siloxy-anchored a...

The high-velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) spraying process was used to fabricate conventional WC-10Co-4Cr coatings and FeCrSiBMn amorphous/nanocrystalline coatings. The synergistic effect of cavitation erosion and corrosion of both coatings was investigated. The results showed that the WC-10Co-4Cr coating had better cavitation erosion-corrosion resistance than the FeCrSiBMn coating in 3.5 wt.% NaCl ...

Strain hardening capability is critical for metallic materials to achieve high ductility during plastic deformation. A majority of nanocrystalline metals, however, have inherently low work hardening capability with few exceptions. Interpretations on work hardening mechanisms in nanocrystalline metals are still controversial due to the lack of in situ experimental evidence. Here we report, by us...