COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF COMPOSITE COATINGS WITH CeO2 AND Nd2O3 IN COPPER MATRIX BY ELECTROLESS PLATING

Abstract

The study presents the influence of CeO₂ and Nd₂O₃ particles as dispersed phase in copper coatings. These coatings were obtained by electroless deposition from copper sulphate electrolyte bath. Advantages of electroless plating include excellent uniformity, bulk processing capability and ability to produce unique catalytic coatings. The main disadvantage of electroless plating method is the fact that thin layers are obtained and the working time is long enough. The concentration of CeO₂ particles was between 5-50g/L. Similar samples were made using the same concentration of Nd₂O₃  particles in bath solution. Many factors, like the nature of electrolyte and concentration of the dispersed phase in the electrolyte, methods of codeposition contributed to the obtaining of qualitative coatings. The embedded particle of dispersed phase in the copper matrix determines changes of surface coatings and also of their properties. Morphology is an important property of electrodeposited composite coatings and was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDAX analysis. The mechanical properties of the composite coatings were investigated. The Vickers microhardness was measured in cross section. The results are compared with copper coatings without oxide particles to understand the effects of dispersed phase on the properties of composite coatings. The obtained composite coatings properties are increased in comparison with the metal copper coatings.